Home Power 099 - 2004.02

February March 2004
Issue 99
homepower.com
$6.95 US
$10.95 CAN
02
20336 78082
Display until April 1
USA
Alternative Solar Products California
Toll Free: 800.229.7652
Phone: 909.308.2366
E-mail: mark@alternativesolar.com
Internet: www.alternativesolar.com
Atlantic Solar Products, Inc. Maryland
Toll Free: 800.807.2857
Phone: 410.686.2500
E-mail: mail@atlanticsolar.com
Internet: www.atlanticsolar.com
Dankoff Solar Products New Mexico

Toll Free: 888.396.6611
Phone: 505.473.3800
E-mail: info@dankoffsolar.com
Internet: www.dankoffsolar.com
Hutton Communications - Georgia

Toll Free: 877.896.2806
Phone: 770.963.1380
Fax: 770.963.9335
E-mail: sales@huttonsolar.com
Internet: www.huttonsolar.com
Effective Solar Products - Louisiana

Toll Free: 888.824.0090
Phone: 504.537.0090
E-mail: esp@effectivesolar.com
Internet: www.effectivesolar.com
Intermountain Solar Technologies Utah

Toll Free: 800.671.0169
Phone: 801.501.9353
E-mail: orrin@intermountainsolar.com
Internet: www.intermountainsolar.com
Polar Wire - Alaska

Phone: 907.561.5955
Fax: 907.561.4233
E-mail: sales@polarwire.com
Internet: www.polarwire.com
ProVision Technologies, Inc.- Hawaii
Phone: 808.969.3281
Fax: 808.934.7462
E-mail: inquiries@provisiontechnologies.com
Internet: www.provisiontechnologies.com
Solar Depot, Inc. - California
Toll Free: 707.766.7727
Phone: 800.822.4041
E-mail: info@solardepot.com
Internet: www.solardepot.com
Now with our BP Solar electric

system, weve got the power
we need....
whenever we need it.

Are you concerned about power outages and spiralling electricity costs?
Or is your home located beyond the power lines? Regardless of where
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needs and will give you and your family the energy independence that
you deserve.
Recognized as an industry leader for over 30 years, BP Solars premium
quality solar electric systems are guaranteed to provide years of superior
performance and reliability. So if youre seeking protection from blackouts
and electric rate volatility, or are tired hauling expensive fuel for a noisy
generator, contact the BP Solar representative nearest you.
For more information, visit our website:

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Southwest PV Systems - Texas

Toll Free: 800.899.7978
Phone: 281.351.0031
E-mail: swpv@southwestpv.com
Internet: www.southwestpv.com
Sun Amp Power Company - Arizona
Toll Free: 800.677.6527
Phone: 480.922.9782
E-mail: sunamp@sunamp.com
Internet: www.sunamp.com
Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. Solar Market - Maine

Toll Free: 877.785.0088
Phone: 207.985.0088
E-mail: sm@solarmarket.com
Internet: www.solarmarket.com
CANADA
Generation PV, Inc. - Ontario
Phone: 905.831.8150
Fax: 905.831.8149
E-mail: info@generationpv.com
Internet: www.generationpv.com
Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta

Toll Free: 888.291.9039
Phone: 403.291.9039
E-mail: sps@spsenergy.com
Internet: www.spsenergy.com
Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario

Toll Free: 888.300.3037
Phone: 705.737.1555
Soltek Powersource Ltd. British Columbia

Toll Free: 800.667.6527
Phone: 250.544.2115
Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec

Toll Free: 800.661.3330
Phone: 450.348.2370
E-mail: rozonbatteries@yahoo.com
Internet: www.worldbatteries.com
www.usbattery.com
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HP99
contents
14
off-grid paradise
Ed Marue
A little log cabin in the Idaho wilderness gets a face-lift and a
modern, efficient, and wilderness-friendly solar-electric system.
22
PV system grid-tied
Greg Bundros
Can a grid-intertied solar-electric system be cost effective on the
foggy coast of Northern California?... Yes!
30
efficient greenhouse
Steve & Carol Moore
An organic family farm turns to the sun, and away from fossil fuels,
to design a simple and powerful greenhouse that produces all winter.
38
polar power
Tracy Dahl
In some environments, only renewable energy makes sense.
An Arctic training facility depends on the sun and wind.
48
thermoelectric power
Bjarni Thor Hafsteinsson & Arni Geirsson
Electricity straight from heat? Thermoelectric generators produce
energy for homes in Iceland from geothermal and other sources.
home power 99 / february & march 2004
Regulars
On the Cover
Carol and Steve Moore
harvest veggies year-round
from their award winning
greenhouse.
10
From Us to You
Linda Pinkham
Intro to natural building.
Photo by Susan Lerner,

www.SusanLernerPhoto.com.
96
What the Heck?

Joe Schwartz
Photovoltaic module.
102
Code Corner
John Wiles
Common mistakes and
how to avoid them.
106
Independent
Power Providers
Don Loweburg
Real cause of blackouts.
112
56
Michael Welch
Not in any backyard.
hydro wizard
116
Malcolm Terence
natural building
118
72
120
John Gulland
82
Joe Schwartz
Sinergex PureSine 600 sine wave inverter.
88
136
hot air
Chuck Marken
nuts & bolts
Writing for
Home Power
124
RE Happenings
128
Letters to
Home Power
140
Q&A
142
Readers
Marketplace
144
Advertisers Index
Mike Brown
The nuts and bolts of nuts and boltsdefining fasteners.
www.homepower.com
HP Subscription
Form
110
Part 2How to install a solar hot air system.
98
Ozonal Notes
Richard Perez
Off-grid communications.
80
REview
Home & Heart

Kathleen
Jarschke-Schultze
Rural life meets the
workplace.
wood heat
In many locations, burning wood for heat is common. Done
correctly, it can be appropriately sustainable and environmentally
friendly.
What the Heck?

Ian Woofenden
Gin pole.
Rachel Ware & Laurie Stone

Low tech is the new high tech. This primer introduces the materials
and techniques of energy efficient, natural house building.
Word Power
Ian Woofenden
Power factor.
A quest for a replacement part becomes a pilgrimage to visit one of

the pioneers of microhydro electricityDon Harris.
62
Power Politics
from us to you
HP staff
Publisher Richard Perez
Publisher &
Business Manager Karen Perez
CEO &
Technical Editor Joe Schwartz
Advertising Manager Connie Said
Marketing Director Scott Russell
Customer Service
& Circulation Marika Kempa
Shannon Ryan
Managing Editor Linda Pinkham
Most of us probably remember the story of the three little pigs. Since
early childhood, we have been conditioned to believe that building a house
out of straw is sheer folly. While the house built of sticks didnt fare any
better in the fable, stick-framed walls nevertheless became the predominant
residential building method in the United States. In modern times, the
outcome of this fable would be different. A straw bale home is warm and
cozy, and keeps out the huffing and puffing of cold winter winds, while
reducing environmental impact.
Last fall, I participated in Solar Energy Internationals (SEI) Solar Home
Design online course. Through that course, I learned that modern
technology, innovative recycled materials, new methods, revived historic
techniques, and local materials have expanded the scope of building
comfortable and sustainable homes.
Green building encompasses a vast and loosely defined field of
methodologies, principles, building materials, and creative structures. What
all variations of green building have in common is efficient homes aimed at
minimizing environmental impact.
With this issue, we are adding a new focus on green building in Home
Power. We will be publishing articles covering various aspects of natural
construction on a regular basis. We are excited to have this new emphasis
shepherded by Rachel Ware, Laurie Stone, and Johnny Weiss from SEI. We
think you will find information that will be useful to you, whether you are
building a new home or retrofitting an existing structure. May you stay
warm and cozy, keeping the wolves of winter away, now and forever after.
-Linda Pinkham for the Home Power crew
Think About It
"The scarcest resource is not oil, metals, clean air, capital, labor, or technology.
It is our willingness to listen to each other and learn from each other
and to seek the truth rather than seek to be right."
Donella Meadows, (19412001), founder of the Sustainability Institute
Senior Editor & Word

Power Columnist Ian Woofenden
Senior Research
Editor & Power
Politics Columnist Michael Welch
Art Director Benjamin Root
Graphic Designer &
Article Submissions
Coordinator Eric Grisen
Chief Information
Officer Rick Germany
Data Acquisition
Specialist AJ Rossman
Solar Thermal
Editor Chuck Marken
Solar Thermal
Technical Reviewers Ken Olson
Smitty Schmitt
Green Building
Editors Rachel Ware
Laurie Stone
Johnny Weiss
Transportation
Editors Shari Prange
Mike Brown
Home & Heart
Columnist Kathleen
Jarschke-Schultze
Code Corner
Columnist John Wiles
Independent Power
Providers Columnist Don Loweburg
HP access
Home Power, Inc.
PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520 USA
Phone: 800-707-6585 or 541-512-0201
Fax: 541-512-0343
hp@homepower.com
letters@homepower.com
Subscriptions, Back Issues, & Other
Products: Marika and Shannon
subscription@homepower.com
Copyright 2004 Home Power, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced
without written permission. While Home Power magazine strives for clarity and accuracy, we assume no responsibility
or liability for the use of this information.
Advertising: Connie Said

advertising@homepower.com
Legal: Home Power (ISSN 1050-2416) is published bi-monthly for $22.50 per year at PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520.
International surface subscription for US$30. Periodicals postage paid at Ashland, OR, and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER send address corrections to Home Power, PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520.
Marketing & Resale: Scott Russell

marketing@homepower.com
Paper and Ink Data: Cover paper is Aero Gloss, a 100#, 10% recycled (postconsumer-waste), elemental chlorine-free
paper, manufactured by Sappi Fine Paper. Interior paper is Connection Gloss, a 50#, 80% postconsumer-waste,
elemental chlorine-free paper, manufactured by Madison International, an environmentally responsible mill based in
Alsip, IL. Printed using low VOC vegetable-based inks. Printed by St. Croix Press, Inc., New Richmond, WI.
Editorial Submissions: Eric Grisen

submissions@homepower.com
10
www.homepower.com
Solar Energy System
Reliable. Flexible. Enlightened.
2003 Sharp Electronics Corporation.
Build your business with Sharp, the world leader in solar technology.
When you install Sharp Solar, you offer your customers
the enlightened home energy choice. Sharps new fully
integrated residential system includes photovoltaic
modules, inverters, trim, mounting hardware and wiring
all designed to work together.
The Sunvista inverter allows you to blend power from
up to three input strings, each varying by number, model
and angle of modules. Each PV module is perfectly
matched to the inverter, so the system is easy to design
and install for maximum efficiency.
Sharps new residential system combines all the benefits
of solar energy with an attractive rooftop appearance
your customers will be proud to show to their neighbors.
If youre expanding or starting your solar business, look
to Sharp, the world leader in solar technology.
With black frames and trim,

unique triangular modules and
the flexibility provided by the
3500W multi-string inverter, your
installations will look clean and
professional.
Sharps solar power monitor blends

seamlessly with the homeowners dcor.
Its backlit LCD screen displays real time
and cumulative electricity generation
and CO2 reduction levels.
Sharp Solar is revolutionizing the solar marketplace. Become authorized now to install Sharps unique line of
solar products. Training classes are filling quickly. Sign up today! 1-800-SOLAR-06 sharpusa.com/solar
ion
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r
e
w
Ne eel V le
St ilab
s
s
le Ava
n
i
w
Sta No
Bergey
1000 Watt Home Wind Turbine
24 VDC
5-Year Warranty (Industrys Longest)

Low Noise Under All Conditions
Bergey Tornado-Tuff Ruggedness
Advanced Airfoil and Oversized Neo
Alternator
AutoFurl No Worry Storm Protection
Fail-Safe Design, No Dump Load Required
for Structural Safety
Upgraded Multi-Function Microprocessor
Controller (new)
Boost Converter Provides Charging at 6 mph
New Slow-Mode Idles Rotor When
Batteries are Full
Push Button Electric Brake (new)
All-Inclusive Tilt-up Towers: 30, 42, 64, 84,
and 104
Tower Winch System using Hand Drill Power
Installation & Support by Over 500 BWC
Dealers
Battery Charging
The Bergey XL.1 24 VDC battery charging wind system is the most technically
advanced small wind turbine on the market today. It provides superior energy
production performance with the Tornado Tuff ruggedness that has made
Bergey turbines best sellers since 1980. And, best of all, the XL.1 is value priced
to give you the most bang for your buck.
The XL.1 now features an upgraded PowerCenter controller that idles the
rotor once the batteries are full (Warning: Be prepared to spend hours
flipping lights on and off to cause the rotor to speed up or slow down.
Highly addictive to techies.) and provides a convenient push button brake
function. In addition, we doubled the dump load capacity (to 60A) and gave
it proportional (PWM) control to more accurately maintain battery voltage,
added a wattmeter function, made customizing set-points a snap, and
added a polarity checker for the wind and PV inputs.
Compare features, performance, price, reputation, and warranties. We think
you will find that the Bergey XL.1 is the clear choice for your home power
system. Get product information and find a dealer near you by visiting our
web site: www.bergey.com.
4 Times More Energy Than the Air 4031

1 Air is a registered trademark of Southwest Windpower, Inc.
2 Whisper is a registered trademark of Southwest Windpower, Inc.
PowerCenter Controller
60A Wind Regulator
30A Solar Regulator
60A Dump Load Control
Circuit
Voltage Booster for Low Winds
Battery and System Status
LEDs
Wattmeter LED Function

Timed Equalization Function
Push Button Rotor Brake
Slow Mode Rotor Idling
Easy Set-Point Adjustment
Polarity Checker
1.8 Times More Energy Than the Whisper H402

11.2 mph (5 m/s) Average Wind Speed at Hub Height, Rayliegh Distribution.
Based on manufacturers published power curves.
2001 Priestley Ave.

Norman, OK 73069
T: 4053644212
F: 4053642078
WindPower
SIMPLICITYRELIABILITYPERFORMANCE
SALES@BERGEY.COM
WWW.BERGEY.COM
2002 Bergey Windpower
The shock to owners of

most grid-tied PV systems comes
when the power goes out.
Many homeowners are shocked to discover

that when the grid goes down, their grid-tied
inverter goes right down with it. And even
owners of systems with battery backup are
finding that, although these units continue to
run during outages, theyre paying for low
operating efficiency.
Now theres a grid-tied, battery backup
system that provides instant power the moment
an outage occurs . . . and keeps it flowing at
high efficiency levels from PV array or batteries,
day or night.
The Smart Power M5 from Beacon

Power delivers a full 5kW of power.
Which, in most cases, is enough to
keep critical systems running for
hours or more. And the transfer time
is fast enough to prevent most
computers and household systems
from restarting. With the inverter,
battery-charge controller, switchgear
and ground-fault protection circuitry all housed
in one compact, outdoor-rated unit, the Smart
Power M5 is a truly integrated solution.
For complete information

and technical specifications
on the Smart Power M5,
contact your local
renewable energy dealer,
or visit our Web site at
www.beaconpower.com.
Solar Comfort
in the Idaho
Wilderness
Ed Marue
2004 Ed Marue
ur first exposure to the wild and scenic Salmon River in remote central Idaho was
on an inflatable kayak trip in 1979. My wife Joyce and I have returned nearly every
summer to paddle the rivers of Idaho, and in particular our favorite section of the main
fork of the Salmon. On the river, being isolated from all forms of contact with the outside
world, was the perfect escape from the rigors and pressures of the business world, and
the ideal place to refresh the spirit and rejuvenate the mind.
14
o f f - g r i d paradise
The Marue homestead, looking north from the Wild and Scenic Salmon Rivers south bank.
Inset (previous page)a closer look at the homesteads PV array, garage (left), and log home (right).
Perfect Summer Paradise

Shortly after retiring in 2000, I became aware of a small
log cabin for sale at Colson Creek, 33 miles (53 km) downriver
from the tiny community of North Fork, only 12 miles (19 km)
from the end of the road at Corn Creek. I immediately flew
from our home in Tucson, Arizona, to check out the property,
and called Joyce to report what I had found.
Joyce had only two questions, Does it have river
frontage, and can we afford it? Yes and yes, but
Before I could finish, Joyce interrupted me and said, Buy

it! We did.
The but was that the condition of the 20-year-old
cabin was such that you would characterize the place as a
real fixer upper. While the log shell and roof were sound,
the rest of the inside was trashed. However, that was the
perfect opportunity to build our own home around a
theme of simple living and less dependence on outside
resources.
www.homepower.com
15
Technical
Specifications
System Overview
System type: Off-grid PV
System location: Colson Creek, Idaho
Solar resource: 5 average annual peak sun hours
Production: 90 AC KWH per month average
Photovoltaics
The electronics and vented battery box are located in the garage.
The site is 33 miles (53 km) and over US$3 million from
the utility grid, and with the cabin facing the river
running east-west, it had the perfect orientation for a PV
system. Abundant water comes from Colson Creek,
originating at a small manmade dam about a half-mile up
from the river. The 15 or so residents of the area take full
advantage of the water supply and produce copious
amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables on riverside
gardens. And while a few lucky residents are able to get
some hydropower from the creek, the only available
utilities are propane delivery and a telephone line.
Modules: Eight Kyocera KC120-1m, 120 W STC, 12

VDC nominal
Array: 960 W STC, 24 VDC nominal
Array combiner box: Pulse Engineering PCB 10,
with 15 A fuses
Array disconnect: Xantrex DC250, with 60 A
breakers
Array installation: Wattsun AZ-125 dual-axis
tracker
Balance of System
Charge controller: Xantrex C60, PWM
Inverter: Xantrex SW4024, 24 VDC nominal input,
120 VAC nominal output
System performance metering: Xantrex TM500 AH
meter
Engine generator: Generac 04389-1, 7 KW, 240 VAC
nominal output, 80100 hours average annual run
time
Energy Storage
Fixer Upper
We spent our first summer rebuilding the small 1,000
square foot (93 m2), two bedroom, single bath cabin. The
project was extensive, since it was literally from the dirt
up. Many of the original floor joists were rotted from past
years water leaks, and had to be replaced. A complete
new kitchen was constructed, including new cabinets, a
new Servel propane refrigerator, and a basic four-burner
propane range and oven. The only added extra was an
energy efficient dishwasher. The bathroom was gutted,
and a new shower was constructed along with a new sink,
vanity, and toilet.
A laundry facility was created that included a
compact, propane-fired, stacked washer and dryer unit.
The old-style, bulky, tank water heater was replaced with
an efficient Aquastar, propane, on-demand, tankless unit.
Heating is provided by the original, centrally located,
wood burning stove with the addition of a small 10,000
BTU propane wall heater for those cool mornings when
the woodstove would be overkill.
Cooling the cabin after a hot summer day is simple.
After the sun goes down, we open the windows at both
ends of the house and allow the breeze blowing down
Colson Creek to flow through and cool things off. We are
considering adding a small air conditioning unit, since we
have sufficient excess energy during the hottest months of
July and August. But actually, we really do not spend
16
Batteries: Eight Rolls S-530, flooded lead-acid,

6 VDC nominal, 530 AH at the 20-hour rate
Battery pack: 24 VDC nominal, 1,060 AH total
Battery/inverter disconnect: Xantrex, DC250, 250 A
breaker
much time indoors during the summer, since we prefer to

be paddling the river, hiking, or working in the garden.
When the inside walls were being repaneled with cedar
planking, I wired the entire house with electrical outlets.
Lamps with compact fluorescent bulbs were installed in
every room. The original gas lights were retained and
upgraded, since along with lighting, they provide
considerable heat, which is useful in mid-November
through mid-February, a time when the canyon walls block
the sun, and the PV system has to be supplemented by a
propane-fired backup generator.
The Forest Service maintains the road all year, and while
some residents of the area live here year-round, we do not
plan to spend the entire winter in Idaho. The fall is our
favorite time of year on the Salmon, since the steelhead
fishing season remains world class up until the river freezes
over, often beyond Thanksgiving. Its a time to relax, fish,
and entertain friends and family.
Photovoltaics: Eight Kyocera KC120-1, 120 W each; wired for 960 W total at 24 VDC
AC Mains Panel:
120 VAC, 40 A breaker
to household loads
Power to
Wattsun Tracker
PV
Combiner
Box:
15 A fuses
Earth
Ground
DC
Lightning
Arrestor
Inverter: Xantrex SW4024,

4,000 W, 24 VDC input,
120 VAC sine wave output
Charge
Controller:
Xantrex
C60, 60 A,
PWM
AC
Lightning
Arrestor
G
N
H
H N G
Autotransformer:
Xantrex T240
DC Disconnect:
Xantrex DC250,
250 A main
breaker, 60 A PV
breaker
Fuse:
2A
Earth
Ground
Amp-Hour
Meter:
Xantrex
TM500
H
H
G
GUARDIAN
Earth
Ground
Propane Generator:
Generac 04389-1, 7 KW, 240 VAC
Batteries:
Eight Rolls S-530, flooded lead-acid, 530 AH at 6 V, wired for 1,060 AH at 24 VDC
Note: All numbers are rated, manufacturers specifications, or nominal unless otherwise specified.
PV System Design
Having a background in physics and engineering, I
planned to do the entire PV system project myself, with
minimal help from outside sources. All of the knowledge
needed to plan, design, and construct the system was
derived from reading articles in Home Power, and tracking
reference material and sources originating from the
magazine. Since discovering HP three years ago, I have read
nearly every article from beginning to end.
Our calculated daily energy requirement came to 2,525

watt-hours. Eight Rolls S-530 batteries in a 24 volt
configuration at 1,060 amp-hours would give us sufficient
reserve to go four days without recharge.
The property is just above the 45th parallel, and has long
summer days and a wide solar window. We calculated that
1 KW of PVs would keep the system sufficiently charged.
We selected eight Kyocera KC120 panels, delivering 960
watts as the most cost effective configuration. The addition
www.homepower.com
17
of a Wattsun AZ-125 dual-axis tracker
increases output and extends our solar
window somewhat.
My philosophy for electronic
equipment is pretty straightforward.
Reliability
is
very
important,
particularly in a remote location. Go
with proven products and derate
appropriately. We essentially selected
Xantrex products, including an
SW4024
inverter,
C60
charge
controller, TM500 battery status
monitor, and appropriate disconnects,
breakers, and lightning protection.
For a backup generator, I selected a
Generac, 7 kilowatt, propane-fueled
unit. While this generator was
designed for emergency backup for
grid-tied applications and has features
Under Idahos blue skies, the assembled Wattsun tracker is ready for the PVs.
Marue System PV Sizing

Load
Washer
Dryer
Microwave
TV
Hair dryer
Dishwasher
Answering machine
Toaster
Blender
Laptop computer
6 Fluorescent lamps
Vacuum cleaner
Fan
Hair curler
Misc.
Hours Days Avg. WH

Watts / Day / Wk. / Day
500
500
1,500
90
400
700
4
1,200
350
25
130
1,200
35
750
100
0.50
1.00
0.50
5.00
0.05
0.75
24.00
0.05
0.05
2.20
1.23
0.15
3.00
0.05
1.00
4
4
7
7
7
3
7
2
2
7
7
4
7
2
7
142.9
285.7
750.0
450.0
20.0
225.0
96.0
17.1
5.0
55.0
159.9
102.9
105.0
10.7
100.0
Total Daily WH
2,525.2
2,525.2 x 1.1 inverter efficiency = Daily DC WH
2,777.7
2,777.7 25 V for system = Daily DC AH
111.1
111.1 x 1.2 loss factor = Adjusted Daily AH
133.3
133.3 5 hrs. sun / day = Total PV Amps
26.7
26.7 7.1 A per module = Parallel Strings
3.8
3.8 x 2 in series = Modules Needed
8.0
133.3 AH x 4 reserve days = Battery AH
533.3
533.3 .5 max DOD = Adj. Battery AH
1,066.6
1,066.6 530 AH = Parallel Batteries
2.0
2.0 x 4 in series = Total Batteries
8.0
18
we will never use, it looked like the best value considering

that it comes with an outdoor environmental enclosure.
Since we do not require 240 VAC for anything, the generator
was wired into the system through a step-down
autotransformer to balance the generator load and provide
simultaneous load and battery-charging electricity when the
generator is operating.
Installation
Once the system was designed, I shopped the Internet
over the winter for the best prices, and accumulated all the
materials before heading to Idaho in April 2003.
Construction of the PV system was concurrent with the
building of a log garage/shop and a deck around the house.
Initially, excavators and cement crews worked on all three
projects simultaneously. Later, I built the deck and installed
the PV system, while a local construction company finished
the garage.
The Wattsun tracker was installed on top of a 10 foot
(3 m) tall, 6 inch (15 cm) diameter, galvanized, Schedule 40
pipe. This pipe was set in a foundation block of reinforced
concrete that is 4 by 4 by 31/2 feet (1.2 x 1.2 x 1 m). This was
a little more than 2 yards of concrete, and more than
required by the calculations of a registered civil engineer.
The garage construction crew helped me hoist the
Wattsun gear head onto the top of the pole. I was able to
construct the frames, install the PV panels, and wire the
circuits by myself. The documentation that came with the
tracker kit proved adequate to complete the installation in a
little more than a day. Once the garage was completed, the
electrical equipment was installed on a wall about 25 feet
(7.6 m) from the PV tracker pole.
On the AC side, appropriate breakers and enclosures were
installed for overcurrent protection. Care was taken to bond
ground rods located at the house and generator to a single
point in the DC disconnect box. Lightning suppressors were
placed at both the DC and AC sides. The Xantrex manuals and
literature were complete enough to accomplish the
installations successfully without help from outside sources. I
particularly liked the technical sections of the Xantrex inverter
manual, which explain the theory of operation, increasing my
overall knowledge of how the system functions.
The batteries were installed in an insulated and vented
box constructed close to the DC disconnect and inverter.
Two inches (5 cm) of Styrofoam insulation should protect
the batteries from freezing, since the winters at Colson
Creek are rather mild, rarely getting to zero. The battery box
was constructed out of plywood with a hinged lid like a
freezer chest. I should have built the box with access
through a side, to avoid hoisting each 130 pound battery
over the top of the box by myself.
Connecting the Generac generator was a bit of a
challenge, since this unit was designed for grid-tie
applications, with no terminations provided for remote
manual control. Generac was unhelpfulmy e-mail request
to them was returned with their concern that I might hurt
myself or harm my property. It did not take much to figure
out a way to interrupt a circuit on the manual start/stop
switch of the Generac, and connected it to the generator
control relay of the inverter, leaving the SW4024 in complete
control of the generators operation.
Performance
After completing construction of the system and doublechecking all the wiring, the switch was turned and
everything came to life. The only glitch was that the azimuth
control of the tracker went the wrong way. I quickly figured
out that the azimuth motor polarity was reversed, and it
took no time to correct the problem.
In the first few weeks of operation, I fine-tuned the
programming of the inverter and battery monitor. So far,
through last summer and fall, the deepest the batteries have
been discharged overnight is 8 percent, taking less than a
Ed & Joyce Marue in front of their newly installed PV array.
third of the available summer sun hours to recharge. I wish

I had a way to sell the excess electricity
Future Considerations
The propane-fueled Generac, 7 KW generator.
Now that we have our Idaho cabin essentially complete,

well turn our attention to some of our favorite hobbies and
enjoy life in this special place. I am contemplating taking on
the challenge of designing and building an energy
independent home in Tucson, a particularly difficult project,
considering the hot summer months in the Southwest desert
region.
It took people more than two thousand years to use up
50 percent of our fossil fuel resources, and the second 50
percent will go very fast, and become increasingly
expensive. Energy is the single largest problem our
government is doing little about. To me, its fun and
rewarding to be doing something that will soon become an
important part of everyones energy supply.
Cost & Payback

The entire cost of the project, including all components,
disconnects, wire, and conduit was US$15,081. We consider
this as part of the cost of our home, and a reasonable
investment, considering that the alternatives are limited.
www.homepower.com
19
Marue PV System Costs
Item
8 Kyocera KC120 modules
Xantrex SW4024 inverter
Generac 04389-1 generator
Cost (US$)
$3,512
2,499
2,275
Wattsun AZ-125 dual-axis tracker

8 Rolls S-530 batteries
Misc. wire, cable, & conduit
Concrete for tracker
Load centers, breakers, & disconnects
Xantrex T240 autotransformer
Xantrex DC250 DC disconnect
Xantrex TM500 battery monitor
Pulse TCB combiner box
PV tracker pole
24 Water Miser battery caps
Xantrex C60 charge controller
Battery box materials
8 Battery cables
2 Inverter cables
DC breaker
DC lightning arrestor
AC lightning arrestor
CD 60 PV array breaker
Stainless battery hardware
4 Compression lugs
Freight
Total
1,926
1,592
447
425
400
289
241
191
181
179
168
161
157
136
94
50
35
35
30
23
20
16
$15,081
VT 05001 800-639-4099 or 802-295-6300

Fax: 802-295-6444 info@chelseagreen.com
www.chelseagreen.com
Solar Living Source Book: The Complete Guide To Renewable
Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living, John Schaeffer,
Paperback, 598 pages, ISBN 0-916571-04-1, US$30 from
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
Do You Need Batteries?...

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860-828-6007
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51 Deming Rd., POB 8005,
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Providing Cost Effective

Energy Solutions
How many times have you heard

Turn the lights Off?
When people consider an RE project, they get too hung
up on payback, rather than the benefits of renewable
energy. Why is it that people will not spend ten to twenty
thousand dollars for an RE system, and think nothing
about paying a premium of hundreds of thousands of
dollars more than the actual construction value for homes
located in major cities and suburbs? Wheres the payback
there?
Now you can finally see why..

Low cost digital electronics provide real time
measurements of whole house energy
consumption in watts and dollars and cents
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hour, day or month. Energy facts displayed on wall
modules or PC software. See appliance, lighting,
air conditioning and household energy use.
CUT Pollution, SAVE Energy,

SAVE Money
Access
Ed & Joyce Marue, 74 Chinook Dr., Shoup, ID 83469
208-394-2197 7570 N. Calle Sin Controversia, Tucson, AZ
85718 520-742-7247 emarue@comcast.net
Earth Solar, Dave Regal, 6315 Canyon Dr., Amarillo, TX
79110 800-329-3283 or 806-359-9005 Fax: 806-355-0585
dave@earthsolar.com www.earthsolar.com System
components
The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, EnergyEfficient Environmental Homes, Daniel D. Chiras, Paperback,
480 pages, ISBN 1-890132-57-8, US$35 from Chelsea Green
Publishing Company, PO Box 428, White River Junction,
20
UpLand Technologies, 502 Prairie Hills Dr, Dodgeville, WI 53533 (608-930-3384)

uplandtechnologies.com
Financially,
environmentally,
it pays to be green.
Evergreen.
The Johnson family was tired of rate increases
from their electric company and concerned
about pollution from power plants.
They decided to generate their own
electricity by installing Evergreen Solar
panels with patented String Ribbon
technology. Evergreen Solar panels
reduce the impact of rate increases on
the Johnsons budget and reduce
pollution for everyone. Plus, when the
Johnsons generate more electricity than they
need, they can sell the excess back to their
utilityand watch their meter spin backwards.
They even saved on installation costs by taking
advantage of tax credits and state rebates. So
think ever green and generate your own power.
Visit evergreensolar.com to see how your
family can save money on energy and help
the environment.
Think ever green.
866.357.2221
www.evergreensolar.com
HP_V5.1
Greg Bundros
2004 Greg Bundros
The author and his daughter Joanna installed the 24 PV panels on the garage and carport roofs.
Is installing a photovoltaic system in rainy and foggy

coastal northern California a reasonable investment? I had
my doubts before we made the plunge. But after the first
year of operation, I truly believe our 2.6 kilowatt
photovoltaic intertie system was not only a cost-effective
investment, but also a patriotic one.
Using daily records from our photovoltaic system, Ill
describe how well our system performed in its first year of
operation. I think the numbers will speak for themselves.
Previous Solar Experience

Our family of four lives in Fieldbrook, California,
located 15 miles (24 km) north of Eureka and 5 miles (8 km)
from the coast. Rainfall averages about 57 inches (145 cm)
per year and coastal fog can plague even the best gardens
during the summer months. Nevertheless, we used a
passive solar design to help heat our home when we built it
more than 20 years ago.
We also installed a water heating system that uses solar
thermal panels and a woodstove circulation loop. I have no
numbers to show this, but I am certain the hot water system
has paid for itself more than once. The only thing that had
kept us from installing a photovoltaic (PV) system to meet
some of our electricity needs was the high initial cost.
Rebates & Tax Incentives

The California Emerging Renewables program
encourages the installation of renewable energy systems
22
through rebates and tax incentives. Administered by the

Californian Energy Commission (CEC), the program
provides incentives for grid-connected PV and wind
generation systems. Applying for the rebate is fairly simple.
Obtain a quote for a system and submit a single-page form
to the CEC. Once approved, they send you a notice
confirming the amount that will be reserved for your rebate,
which in our case was about 50 percent of the system cost.
The system can then be purchased and installed.
After the system is inspected by your local building
department and utility, and is operational, you submit the
final papers to the CEC for the rebate, which is received
within 4 to 6 weeks. Current state tax credits are about 10
percent of the system cost. So you recover, almost
immediately, about 55 to 60 percent of the total system cost.
Too good to be true? Read on.
Taking the Plunge

When I learned of the rebate program, I immediately set
off to research PV system components and costs. Michael
Welch, a long-time buddy from Redwood Alliance in Arcata,
California, was one of my first calls. He provided a number
of tips and pointed me to several good Web sites on PV
technology. The Redwood Alliance Web site is a very good
portal for renewable energy system links. Home Power
magazine was an invaluable reference for system
components and design. The cost table lists the PV-intertie
system components that we installed for our home.
PV system grid-tied
Our goal was to maximize the use of a single inverter in
hopes of meeting 65 to 75 percent of our electricity needs.
Because the incentive program made this purchase affordable,
I decided not to skimp too much on cost. There are many good
solar-electric panels on the market today, but the Siemens
(now Shell Solar) seemed to fit our needs best. They are a high
efficiency, monocrystalline module, and they come with a 25
year warranty. They also work well under a wide temperature
range. Everyone I spoke with and all the literature I read voted
strongly for the Sunny Boy inverter, an efficient, reliable, easyto-install, batteryless, grid-intertie unit made by SMA.
While seasonal angle adjustments can increase solar
output by about 5 percent at our location, I decided to
mount the PV arrays at the fixed slope of our garage roof so
they were unobtrusive. The roof pitch is 8:12 (34 degrees), so
I felt it was close enough to our 41 degree latitude. The
UniRac SolarMount racks were a perfect fit for us, because I
wanted to rack panels individually on the roof instead of on
the ground. The racks are made of high quality aluminum
with accurately machined channels, and come with stainless
steel hardware. The racks assemble easily, and the
companys technical support staff is superb.
We purchased the system components through Schott
Applied Power Corporation, now Alternative Energy
Engineering, located about 80 miles (130 km) south of us in
Redway, California. These folks have been in the renewable
energy business for more than 20 years, supplying people
with both off-grid and utility-intertie renewable energy
systems. They are pros. Brian Teitelbaum was extremely
friendly, knowledgeable, and an incredible resource.
I installed the system myself. Peter Brant, an electrical
contractor, agreed to oversee the installation. Peter is a staunch
supporter of renewable energy, and is enthusiastic and
knowledgeable. My 16-year-old daughter Joanna and I
installed all 24 panels on the garage roof in two days.
Installing the inverter, running conduit, and pulling wire
required another three days of work. The installation was
straightforward and fun.
Bundros System Costs

Item
Cost (US$) % of Total
24 Siemens SM110-24P 110 W,
$15,240
69.2%
24 V panels
SMA Sunny Boy SB2500U
2,310
10.5%
with display
Sales tax
1,413
6.4%
6 UniRac Solar Mount SM/120
1,325
6.0%
racks
Misc. (building permit, wire,
641
2.9%
conduit, etc)
Shipping
440
2.0%
AC disconnect,100 A lockable
236
1.1%
Electrician, labor
227
1.0%
DC disconnect, 600 VDC, 30 A
131
0.6%
2 Delta lightning arrestors
76
0.3%
Total Cost
$22,039
100.0%
CA Energy Commission rebate

CA state tax credit
-$10,112
-1,700
-45.9%
-7.7%
Net System Cost
$10,227
46.4%
sooner, because energy costs will rise. Besides, the bottom

line for us was the ability to produce most of our own
electricity and be part of a global solution.
Net Metering Keeps the Score

A net metering agreement is signed with your local utility
when you become an electricity generator. The utility installs
a bi-directional meter at your home that records and displays
the net cumulative electricity use. The meter subtracts (runs
backwards) the amount of electricity produced by the PV
system from the amount consumed in your home, and keeps
a running tally from the time the PV system is operational.
The Bottom Line

The system is rated by the CEC at
2.2 kilowatts and cost US$22,039. We
received a US$10,112 rebate from the
CEC and claimed a US$1,700 state
income tax credit. Thus, our net cost
was US$10,227, or 46 percent of the
original system cost. During our first
year of operation, we produced almost
80 percent of our electricity needs, but
ended up producing US$98 worth of
electricity more than we consumed. Ill
explain that apparent contradiction
later.
Our annual electricity cost before
we installed the PV system was about
US$700, so our payback, based on 2001
energy costs, will be less than 15 years.
I fully expect the payback to occur
The Sunny Boy inverter is mounted inside the garage.

The arrays DC disconnect box is mounted to the left of the inverter.
www.homepower.com
23
PV system grid-tied
The time-of-use rate schedule (TOU) establishes the
value for electricity based on the period of the year and the
time of day electricity is used (or produced). Heres how it
works. The year is divided into summer and winter periods,
and the day into peak and off-peak hours. The summer
period runs from May 1st to October 30th. The winter
period is the other half of the year. Peak hours, regardless of
period, are weekdays from noon until 6 PM. Off-peak hours
are the remaining weekday and weekend hours.
These are important points. With TOU, the price for
electricity (whether you consume it or produce it) during
peak hours of the summer period is three times more than
for any other time. The price is also higher for peak hours
during the winter period, but it is only a few cents more
than off-peak hours. The price for electricity during the offpeak hours throughout the year remains the same and is less
than the general rate schedule.
So the TOU rates explain the apparent contradiction
mentioned earlier, because the value of the electricity you
produce can make up for not producing all that you
consume. In other words, for optimum financial gain, you
want to limit your electricity use and maximize your
electricity production during peak hours, especially during
the summer period.
Monthly Energy
Consumption & Sources
600
500
400
KWH
Time-of-Use Provides a Boost
300
200
100
0
-100
-200
Apr.
Jun.
PV
Aug.
Grid
Oct.
Dec.
Feb.
Home Use
predict our solar production by the weather. I will use those

numbers, as they relate to net metering and TOU, to show
how our system performed during its first year. We
commissioned the system in March 2002.
How Much Electricity We Used

& Where It Came From
The monthly energy consumption and sources graph

shows our monthly energy consumption, the amount of
electricity produced by the PV system, and how much
The Fun Stuff (for Nerds)
electricity was pulled from the grid. In this graph, the PV
I am a number nerd. ThereI said it. I have tracked our
production is the total amount of energy produced. It does
annual rainfall, electricity, and water use for nearly 20 years,
not distinguish between peak and off-peak hours. The dates
so it was only natural to record the PV systems
in this and other graphs that follow correspond to the end of
performance once it was operational. Each day since we
each month.
commissioned the system, I have recorded our net
From the graph, you can see that our average monthly
cumulative electricity use, system production, and weather.
electricity consumption was 280 kilowatt-hours from the end
Its actually kind of fun (I knowget a life!), and I can now
of May through October. In the same
period, PV production averaged about
345 kilowatt-hours per month and
Bundros Home Electricity Tally
peaked by the end of July. Little if any
Billing PV Production (KWH) Home Use (KWH) Net Grid Use (KWH)
energy was pulled from the grid. The
Date
Month Cumulative Month Cumulative Month Cumulative
PV production and home use curves
04/30/02
469
469
500
500
31
31
cross just before the end of October,
05/28/02
366
835
310
810
-56
-25
when consumption started to outpace
06/25/02
337
1,172
285
1,095
-52
-77
PV production. From the end of
October, more energy was pulled from
07/26/02
393
1,565
273
1,368
-120
-197
the grid, especially during the dark
08/26/02
364
1,929
281
1,649
-83
-280
winter months. The lowest monthly PV
09/25/02
353
2,282
218
1,867
-135
-415
production occurred in January with
10/24/02
249
2,531
301
2,168
52
-363
110 kilowatt-hours.
11/22/02
182
2,713
493
2,661
311
-52
Net metering subtracts the
12/24/02
142
2,855
542
3,203
400
348
amount of electricity you produce
01/24/03
111
2,966
383
3,586
272
620
from the amount you consume, and
02/25/03
203
3,169
388
3,974
185
805
keeps a running tally of your net
03/18/03
155
3,324
236
4,210
81
886
electricity use. The electricity tally in
the table illustrates how this works.
Total Annual Use (KWH)
4,210
When more electricity is produced
Total PV Production (KWH)
3,324
than consumed, the net cumulative
Difference (KWH)
886
use is a negative value and vice versa.
Percent Solar Powered
79%
This table shows our net monthly and
24
PV system grid-tied
Photovoltaics: Twenty-four Siemens SM110, 110 W each; wired for 2,640 W total at 288 VDC
DC Disconnect (30 A)
& PV Combiner Box (10 A)
KWH
Meter
Inverter Subpanel
(100 A):
30 A breakers to
inverter circuit
DC
Lightning
Arrestor
Inverter:
SMA Sunny Boy SB2500U,
2,500 W, 600 VDC maximum
input, 240 VAC output, MPPT,
utility interactive
AC Mains Panel:
100 A breakers to
subpanel
To Utility Grid:
240 VAC
Lockable
Disconnect
(100 A)
H
H
G
AC Lightning Arrestor
Earth
Ground
Note: All numbers are rated, manufacturers specifications, or nominal unless otherwise specified.
Monthly Use During Peak

& Off-Peak Hours
500
KWH from Grid
cumulative balance, and how the primary source of power

changed during the year.
The table and graph show that the system consistently
produced more energy than we consumed from the beginning
of May through September (negative values). By the end of
September, the system had banked nearly 500 kilowatt-hours
of excess electricity. The system continued producing
electricity, but consumption started exceeding production in
October. We consumed the banked excess energy by the end
of November, and relied more heavily on the grid for the
winter months. By the end of the year and billing cycle, we
had consumed about 890 kilowatt-hours more than we
produced, about 20 percent of our annual consumption.
Now lets take a look at how our electricity use was spread
between peak and off-peak hours. Recalling the previous
discussion, net electricity use is the difference between the
amount consumed and the amount produced by the PV
system. Positive values represent net energy consumption.
Negative values represent net energy production. The
monthly peak vs. off-peak usage graph shows our monthly
net use (or production) based on peak and off-peak hours.
That graph shows that the system consistently
produced more than was consumed during peak hours
400
300
200
100
0
-100
-200
-300
Apr.
Jun.
Aug.
Peak Hours
Oct.
Dec.
Feb.
Off-Peak Hours
throughout the entire year. Not surprisingly, the net peak

hour production approached zero in December and
January, but never went into the positive range. Net offpeak hour production was never anything to write home
about. It stayed in the positive range throughout the year.
www.homepower.com
25
PV system grid-tied
Monthly Value of PV &
Running Balance Owed
to Utility
Average Daily
PV Production & Weather
16
$50
14
12
KWH
$0
KWH
-$50
-$100
10
8
6
4
-$150
2
0
-$200
Clear
-$250
Apr.
Jun.
Aug.
Off Peak
Oct.
Peak
Dec.
Feb.
Entire Year
Partly
Cloudy
Mostly
Cloudy
Summer Period
Cloudy
Rain
Winter Period
Balance
PVs Love Sunny Days

This is due to the location of the panels, which are
bordered to the east by trees that we are not willing to
remove.
So how is it that we consumed 890 kilowatt-hours more
than we produced and still had a US$98 credit at the end of
the first year? This is where TOU and peak hour production
join forces. The monthly value graph shows how the value
of electricity produced during the peak summer hours can
offset consumption.
The graph shows the value of our monthly net electricity
use during peak and off-peak hours. It also shows the
running balance (the amount we owe, or our credit) with the
utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The running balance
curve drops sharply at the beginning of the summer period
(May 1st) when peak hour electricity is worth three times
more than electricity during off-peak hours. We maintained
a credit of more than US$200 through October (end of
summer period), which was reduced to US$98 by the end of
the annual billing cycle. This demonstrates the importance
of TOU and feeding the grid as much as possible during the
peak hours of the summer period.
North Coast Weather

Our climate is completely maritime because we live
close to the Pacific Ocean. Eureka averages 38 inches (97 cm)
of rain each year. Living north of Eureka and slightly inland
from the coast, our annual rainfall averages 57 inches (145
cm), based on my twenty-year record.
The rainy season runs from October through April,
when we receive about 90 percent of our annual rainfall. The
dry season runs from May through September, and is
commonly marked by periods of fog that usually clear by
early afternoon. However, summertime fog can persist for
several days to a week, or more. Annual rainfall totaled 58.3
inches (148 cm) for the first year our system was in
operation.
26
In a final demonstration of system performance, take a

look at how the system performed in different weather. The
bar graph (above) shows the systems average daily output
for different weather and TOU periods.
Predictably, the clear summer days (I wish we had more of
them) produced the highest average daily outputs, followed
closely by partly cloudy conditions. What I find interesting is
that the average daily output for different periods maintains
the same relative proportion during clear, partly cloudy, and
mostly cloudy weather conditions. This relationship is
probably related to the sun angle and solar window for the
time of year. Our solar window varies from 4 to 5 hours
during the winter months to more than 10 hours during the
summer months.
It is also interesting to note that the average daily output
remains relatively equal for cloudy (fog during summer)
weather at all times throughout the year. This might reflect the
panels constant efficiency in diffuse light. The relatively high
output for rainy summer days is probably due to a small
sample size and low cloud density during summer storms.
For the entire year, the maximum daily output was 18
kilowatt-hours in May and June (pre-fog), and the minimum
was 0 kilowatt-hours on five days in December. Daily output
averaged 9.1 kilowatt-hours per day over the entire year.
No More Excuses
Was installing the PV system a cost-effective
investment? I sure think so. Sure, the payback will take
some time, but what good things in life dont? Our society
purchases new cars and similarly high priced consumer
goods on a regular basis. Think about it. For half the price of
a new modestly priced car, you can produce a significant
portion of your electricity for the next 20 to 30 years.
Global energy demand will increase significantly as
populations and nations flourish. Nonrenewable energy
resources will someday be depleted. We have the ability to
PV system grid-tied
Technical
Specifications
System Overview
System type: Batteryless, grid-intertie system
System location: Fieldbrook, California
Solar resource: 4.4 average annual peak sun
hours
Percentage KWH offset by PV system: 79
percent
Percent utility cost offset by PV system: 100
percent
Photovoltaics
Modules: 24 Siemens SM110, 110 W STC, 24 VDC
nominal
Array: Two, 12 module series strings, 1,320 W STC
each, 2,640 W STC total, 288 VDC nominal
Array combiner box: Xantrex TCB-10 with 10 A
fuses
Array disconnect: GE heavy duty safety switch, NP
266212-E, 30 A
Array installation: UniRac Solar mounts on
south-facing roof, 34 degree tilt
Balance of System
Inverter: SMA Sunny Boy SB2500U, up to 600
VDC input, 240 VAC nominal output, 250 to 600
VDC MPPT voltage window
System performance metering: Built-in inverter
display
be part of a global solution, as long as PV system costs

remain reasonable, and future costs are reduced by
increased demand and advancements in component
production. I applaud California for its forward-looking
vision and effort to spur PV technology and use.
A nation without financial incentives that encourage
renewable energy investment is a nation without a vision.
Our national energy policy should provide the necessary
incentives to promote renewable energy sources and energy
conservation. Going to war for oil or drilling for it in places
that we should hold sacred in perpetuity is dangerously
shortsighted. If photovoltaic technology works in dreary
coastal northern California, just think of the potential
elsewhere in our nation and world.
Access
Greg Bundros, 388 Rock Pit Rd., Fieldbrook, CA 95519
707-839-3553 gbundros@reninet.com
Peter Brant, Brant Electric, PO Box 66, Arcata, CA 95518
707-822-3256 Fax: 707-826-1180 pbrant@foggy.net
Electrician
A bi-directional digital meter records net electricity use.
Michael Welch, Redwood Alliance, PO Box 293, Arcata, CA

95518 707-822-7884 www.redwoodalliance.org
mwelch@redwoodalliance.org Inspiration & information
Alternative Energy Engineering, PO Box 339, Redway, CA
95560 888-840-7191 or 707-923-2277 Fax: 707-923-3009
info@alt-energy.com www.alt-energy.com System
components
California Emerging Renewables Program, California
Energy Commission (CEC), 1516 9th Street, MS-45,
Sacramento, CA 95814 800-555-7794 or 916-654-5127
Fax: 916-653-1435 renewable@energy.state.ca.us
www.energy.ca.gov Buydown program
Eureka National Weather Service Office, 300 Starare Dr.,
Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-6484 Fax: 707-443-6195
www.wrh.noaa.gov/eureka Weather data
Shell Solar Industries, 4650 Adohr Ln., Camarillo, CA 93011
805-482-6800 Fax: 805-388-6395
solarsalesusa@shell.com www.shell.com/shellsolar
PVs
SMA America, Inc., 12438 Loma Rica Dr., Unit C, Grass
Valley, CA 95945 530-273-4895 Fax: 530-274-7271
info@ sma-america.com www.sma-america.com
Inverter
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POWERING YOUR FUTURE
Winter Food
Production in
Pennsylvania
without Fossil
Fuels!
Steve & Carol Moore

2004 Steve & Carol Moore
A rainbow over Steve and Carols solar powered greenhouse marks their pot of goldsustainable food production.
Thirty years ago, we started farming as a family with the principles of organic
agriculture and limited fossil fuel use. This ethic stemmed both from our concern
for the environment and from our interest in self-sufficiency.
We used horse power for the first 26 years, and moved on to hand power with
the incredibly efficient Grow Biointensive gardening technique. As farmers and
market gardeners, we needed continual cash flow, and decided to use a seasonal
extension of tomato growing for a niche market. Before we knew what had
happened, we were growing tomatoes year-round and burning lots of fossil fuel to
raise tomatoes in the winter. We had an epiphany as we looked at fuel consumption
and asked, How did we get so far from our mark? How can we avoid getting to
this place again? Where should we go from here?
30
Simple Goals
We decided to start with a few
simple goals to help us stay focused as
we changed our season extension plan.
They were:
Accept as much natural energy as
possible
Lose as little energy as possible
Store an adequate amount of energy
Keep things simple (both mechanically and managerially)
Do it with a payback (and minimal
risk)
We also wanted the freshest, most
nutritious food for our family (as well
as our markets). We were tired of the
high labor and energy intensive
preserving methods, which only led to
compromised nutrition anyway.
These were the beginning ideas of
our passive solar greenhouse. Whether
by encouragement or challenge, we
moved forward with research and
experimentation until we could
produce food for market and our table.
The main idea was embarrassingly
simpleif one blanket doesnt keep
you warm, add another. In our case, we
added grow tunnels inside one of our
Photo by Susan Lerner, www.SusanLernerPhoto.com.
big greenhouse structures.
The success of these greenhouses
Josh, Sarah, Carol, and Steve Moore in front of their solar powered greenhouse.
was noticed by the Pennsylvania
Environmental Resource Center, which
voluntarily funded the purchasing of
Here in southeast Pennsylvania, winters often bring a
microclimate monitoring equipment. The data we gathered
week of subzero (F) temperatures, and sometimes days and
allowed us to accelerate our learning curve. As a result, we
weeks that never get above 32F (0C). We can now grow
now use greenhouse perimeter and interior pathway
more than a dozen cold-tolerant crops right through the
insulation; new, more efficient interior layouts; and different
dead of winter. In addition to improved winter production,
films for the greenhouse and inner covers.
our new system provides summer production in
spring, and summer crops as late as Christmas.
Design Considerations
Two Layers of Plastic
June 21
Sun Angle
Rigid Foam
Insulation
10oF Above Outsides

Nighttime Lows
Inner Cover
1/2" EMT
Conduit
Inner
Cover
90 degrees
to Plastic
Dec. 21
Sun Angle
Polyethylene
Pipe
22 oF Above Outsides
Nighttime Lows in all Beds
Brick
Pavers
Rigid Foam Insulation
www.homepower.com
Although the basic idea of extra

blankets in the winter is simple,
there are several important design
and operational considerations.
Singularly, each consideration is just
a small improvement; but building
on each other, they improve thermal
performance significantly, resulting
in more diverse crops over longer
periods of time. Listed below are the
basic design considerations.
Orientation and Location. Most
greenhouses are oriented with the
31
Testing Greenhouse
Materials
We are constantly seeking to improve the
performance of our greenhouses. For the winter of
20022003, we received a small grant from the
Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers and Mid-Atlantic
Vegetable Growers Association to try various inner
covers, outer covers, and combinations. The results
(shown in the table) indicate that the best retention of
heat is a double layer of polyethylene over the big
greenhouse, and a 6 mil polyethylene inner cover (can
be reused from old greenhouse film) covering the
entire half width of the interior of the big greenhouse.
Thermal performance is the ability of the
greenhouse and inner covers to accept as much
energy (light and heat) as possible, and retain it
overnight and into subsequent days. Economic
analysis shows that this inner cover is very cost
effective.
Further investigation using the 7.8 mil infrared
reradiating (IR) Coeva cover (a greenhouse film made
in Italy) in a two-layer cover on the big greenhouse
may prove to be thermally better than the two-layer, 6
mil, standard polyethylene covering. Our continuing
research may also show this combination to be more
economical if a useful life expectancy of eight years
can be obtained (useful meaning it still transmits a
high percentage of light towards the end).
Materials
Comparison
*Average Cost /
Thermal
sq. ft.
Performance (US$)
Tunnel Inner Cover (5 foot bed)
Cravo Equipment XLS10
blanket thermal
Poly, 6 mil, used
Poly, 6 mil, new
Agribon-70 (2 oz. per yard
spun polyester)
Aluminet (Green-tex)
Tufbell (PVA, poly vinyl alcohol)
0.76F
$0.18
0.00F
0.00F
-0.76F
0.00
0.10
0.05
-1.49F
-2.07F
0.33
0.23
Tunnel Inner Cover (1/2 of 30 foot width)

Poly, 6 mil, new
2.89F
Poly, 6 mil, used
2.89F
Agribon-70 (2 oz. per yard
-2.16F
spun polyester)
0.10
0.00
0.05
Greenhouse Cover
Two layers 6 mil IR AC poly w/ 6
mil IR AC poly inner cover (new)
Two layers 6 mil IR AC poly w/ 6
mil IR AC poly inner cover (used)
Single layer 7.8 mil IR AC Coeva
(poly) Growers Requisite Ltd.,
w/ Agibon-70 1/2 width of inner
cover
2.89F
0.24
2.89F
0.19
-2.16F
0.15
*Compared to used 6 mil poly (5 foot bed)
long axis north-south to reduce light reflecting off the

surfaces. To accept the most solar energy, solar greenhouses
should be oriented east-west. Use a sun chart or Solar
Pathfinder to identify the sun-restricting objects, like trees
and buildings, and locate your structure accordingly. The
east-west orientation also provides the smallest profile for

our cold westerly winds. Always provide groundwater and
surface water drainage away from the greenhouse, both to
prevent heat-robbing groundwater movement and
waterlogging the crops.
Longitudinal beds and environmental

datalogging unit (middle).
Lateral beds. Note the cover (pulled back during the daytime)
against the side of the greenhouse.
32
Structure Design. The Gothic arch
shape minimizes interior shading,
reduces snow load, and raises the
height of the structure for better
summer ventilation. The size and
relationship of length to width affects
lighting (or shading), energy gain,
growing space, ventilation, cost per
square foot, and much more.
For example, a 10 by 90 foot (3 x
27 m) tunnel has a 200 foot (61 m)
lineal perimeter and a 900 square foot
(84 m2) growing area. A 30 by 70 foot
(9 x 21 m) greenhouse has a 200 foot
(61 m) lineal perimeter and a 2,100
square foot (195 m2) growing area.
Not only is this important for
greenhouse growing area, but it is
critical for the ratio of perimeter, or
heat loss potential, to growing area
(greater than 2:1 ratio in this
The Moores winter greenhouse yields a healthy harvest.
example).
Combining all the above criteria
(price per square foot, etc.), a 28 or 30
In either case, the covering can be as economical as old
foot wide by 96 foot long (8.5 or 9 x 29 m) greenhouse
greenhouse film or as sophisticated (and expensive) as
seems to be the best bet for success. Using this size and
thermal curtains. The combination of the tunnels inside the
shape with the interior grow tunnels, we have achieved
greenhouse and the greenhouse covering itself results in a
our design objectives.
20 to 22F (1112C) increase over average minimum
Interior Design. Two interior designs can be used. One
outside ambient temperature.
design uses longitudinal, 5 foot (1.5 m) wide beds with 8
On sunny days, the covering on the interior tunnels can
foot (2.4 m) curved polyethylene water pipes (this can be
be pulled or rolled back. If the south half is rolled or
used pipe, 3/4 to 11/4 inch; 1932 mm) spaced 3 to 5 feet
flipped up to expose the bed, the incoming, short-wave
(0.91.5 m) apart and set on 12 to 18 inch (3046 cm) pins
solar radiation is absorbed and reradiated as long wave
driven three quarters of the way into the edge of the 5 foot
radiation from plants and soil. The inner covers can then
wide beds.
reflect this long-wave radiation. If using the longitudinal
Another interior design uses a center path and lateral, 5
beds, both sides are rolled or flipped up for harvesting,
foot beds and 1 foot (0.3 m) paths covered from the side of
watering, or venting. When spring comes, these tunnels
the greenhouse to the center path. The cover is supported by
1/2 inch EMT conduit with a PVC center support.
can be pulled up off the ground pins and removed for use
on outside beds.
Ventilation. Ventilation is achieved using traditional
aluminum louvers or a homemade butterfly louver that can
One 32 watt UniSolar PV provides power
open the upper section of the gable end. In either case, two,
to the datalogging unit and inflation blower.
4 by 8 foot (1.2 x 2.4 m) doors at each end complete the
natural ventilation system.
There is no denying that these greenhouses get hot
(105110F; 4143C) in the summer, yet we have always
attained good yields. Interestingly, the leaf surface is cooler,
even though ambient temperature is much higher than
outside temperatures. (Hot leaf surfaces cause blossom drop
and a shutdown of photosynthesis.) The plants grown in the
summertomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and
squashare tropical in nature and do quite well.
Roof Coverings. Traditional greenhouses of this type
use an inflation fan to keep the air pressurized between the
two layers of plastic. This provides a thermal dead air space
and improves the longevity of the plastic by keeping it from
flapping in the wind.
www.homepower.com
33
Greenhouse Costs
30 x 96 Feet
Item
Frame
Polygal, splices, & fasteners
(end wall)
IR poly, 48 x 100 feet
Shipping
UniSolar 32 W PV module
2 Shutters, 45 x 45 inches
Poly, 48 x 100 feet (or 2)
Wire lock (base & wires)
12 Cross ties & frames
Framing & baseboard, sawmill
Roll-ups
2 Golf cart batteries, 6 V
Morningstar PS30 charge
controller
Gable rafter trim (wire lock)
Inflation fan & adapter to poly
Sand & cement
Framing from lumber yard
Misc. hardware
Poly patch
2 Jumper kits
Alternative gable end poly,
staples, etc.
Total
Deluxe
Version*
$2,625.00
1,298.60
459.86
411.72
365.00
355.74
323.49
312.85
300.00
200.00
174.00
160.00
150.00
78.40
77.27
75.00
50.00
50.00
21.90
17.40
$7,506.23
Scaled
Down**
$2,625.00
411.72
365.00
646.98
300.00
200.00
160.00
150.00
77.27
75.00
200.00
50.00
21.90
17.40
100.00
$5,400.27
*Deluxe gable end with rigid polycarbonate covering

**Scaled down gable end with 6 mil polyethelene
In our system, energy for this purpose (and for powering

the monitoring equipment) is provided by a 32 watt
UniSolar panel, Morningstar PS30 charge controller, and
two, 6 volt, U.S. Battery golf cart batteries (stored below
grade). This simple system powers a surplus 12 volt, 4 watt,
dual-pole blower, which is small, but sufficient to maintain
adequate inflation. We are also experimenting with the use
of a single greenhouse plastic film (allowing 9 percent more
light to enter during the day) and more sophisticated inner
covers to retain the heat closer to the plants at night.
Cultural Practice. Although energy concerns are
primary to HP readers, a few growing points should be
briefly mentioned. We use biointensive techniques and find
that it gives incredible yields, great insect and disease
control, zero direct fossil fuel use, and a closed loop cycling
of nutrients (all issues key to a sustainable food system).
The major components of a biointensive system are deep
(2 foot; 0.6 m) soil preparation, close offset spacing,
enhanced composts, use of transplants, and companion
planting. We have been using this system for quite a number
of years in and out of the greenhouse with great results.
When combined with the use of beneficial insects, good pest
insect control is achieved as well.
In our greenhouses, the eggplant yield is 6.7 times the
U.S. average, and the peppers have yielded 10 times the U.S.
34
average per square foot. High CO2 contributions (2 to 3

times outside ambient) from decaying organic matter
greatly accelerate photosynthesis and corresponding
growth (and profit per square foot).
Soil health cannot be overrated. We try to keep a high
level of nutrient availability and biological activity. Our
beds test at above 15 percent organic matter in the top 6
inches (15 cm), and above 11 percent in the 6 to 12 inch
(1530 cm) range, with corresponding low bulk densities.
Sustainable, Energy Efficient Agriculture

Crops can be grown even in the dead of winter in
southeastern Pennsylvania without the direct use of fossil
fuel and the need for expensive and high maintenance
heating and cooling equipment. This has proven
important to holding on to our market niches year-round,
and spreading the work and cash flow throughout the
year. It also contributes to a more sustainable food
system.
Using the solar greenhouse with biointensive and other
sustainable agricultural techniques reduces the high energy
cost of our current food system. U.S. mechanized agriculture
uses 9.8 calories of mostly fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie at
the dinner table. Commercial transnational organic
production may be just as energy intensive.
Techniques such as biointensive agriculture and passive
solar greenhouses can reduce the conversion to 1 calorie in
(mostly human energy) for 20 calories out (at the table).
Extrapolating, you could generalize that this system is 200
times more energy efficient than current U.S. mechanized
agriculture. Additionally, the combination of solar
greenhouse and biointensive practices provides maximum
freshness and improves the availability of nutrient and
therapeutic components in the plants for our customers and
our family year-round.
Access
Steve & Carol Moore, Harmony Essentials, 1522 Lefever
Ln., Spring Grove, PA 17362 717-225-2489
sandcmoore@juno.com Two-day solar greenhouse
workshops will be held March 56, 2004 and September
2425, 2004. Contact Steve & Carol for details.
Grow Biointensive, Ecology Action, 5798 Ridgewood Rd.,
Willits CA 95490 707-459-0150 Fax: 707-459-5409
bountiful@sonic.net www.growbiointensive.org
Growers Requisites Limited, 1915 Setterington Dr.,
Kingsville, ON Canada N9Y 2E5 800-819-8776 or
519-326-4466 Fax: 519-326-3492 growers@mnsi.net
www.greenhousepoly.ca Coeva greenhouse cover material
Four Season Harvest, by Eliot Coleman, Paperback, 236
pages, ISBN 1-890132-27-6 US$24.95 from Chelsea Green
Publishing Company, PO Box 428, White River Junction,
VT 05001 800-639-4099 or 802-295-6300 Fax:
802-295-6444 info@chelseagreen.com
How to Grow More Vegetables, by John Jeavons, 6th edition,
paperback, 240 pages, ISBN 1-58008-233-5, US$17.95 from
Bountiful Gardens, 18001 Shafer Ranch Rd., Willits CA
95490-9626 707-459-6410 www.bountifulgardens.org.
Winter Harvest ManualFarming the Backside of the Calendar,
by Eliot Coleman, 1998, 57 pages. US$15 postpaid from
Four Season Farm, 609 Weir Cove Rd., Harborside, ME
04642 www.fourseasonfarm.com
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35
Polar Power
Renewable Energy in the Arctic

Tracy Dahl
2004 Tracy Dahl
At more than 66 N latitude, Camp Raven receives all its electricity from the almost nonstop sun and wind.
The main Weather-Port tent, communications center, and renewable energy system are shown above.
The Earths polar environments are great places for

using renewable energy technologies. In the summer, 24hour sunlight and low temperatures combine to create
spectacular conditions for photovoltaics. In an ice cap
environment, the reflective white surface of the snow
further boosts PV panel output. Consistently high wind
speeds are often the norm, making wind power equally
viable.
Additionally, there are no corner gas stations. Every bit
of fuel must be brought in via aircraft at great expense. Due
to continuously drifting snow, fuel storage creates
additional operational problems. Fuel tanks, and indeed
anything placed on the snow surface here tends to become
quickly buried in massive snowdrifts. But the same wind
that creates so many operational problems can be made into
an ally by harnessing it for the production of electrical
energy.
Small renewable energy systems, such as the one
described here, can often pay for themselves in a single
season. Renewable energy is finding ever-wider application
in these environments, in both the public and private
sectors.
38
Camp Raven
The U.S. National Science Foundations (NSF) Office of
Polar Programs funds scientific research in the Arctic and
Antarctica. One of the camps funded by the NSF in the
Arctic is Camp Raven. Raven is located on the Greenland ice
cap, just below the Arctic Circle (66 29.786 N, 46 17.095
W). The camps main function is to serve as a training
facility for the New York Air National Guard (NYANG), the
primary logistical aircraft support provider for the United
States Polar Programs. A limited amount of scientific
support is also provided at this facility, with two, yearround, autonomous instrument stations.
The camp itself operates only during the boreal (far
northern) summer, typically late April through mid-August.
The Raven support staff consists of two people, typically a
couple. My wife Amy and I have run this camp twice, first
in 2001, and again in 2003. I helped develop a small but
serviceable renewable energy system at the camp. Several
people have contributed to the evolution of this system. Im
just the guy telling you about it.
Project manager Mark Sparky Begnaud put a lot of
work into this system, both in the design and
polar power
implementation. Joe Solar Joe Yarkin helped to install the
system twice, and made significant contributions along the
way. My wife and I alternate seasons with another couple,
Mark and Louise Albershardt, who have also made several
suggestions for improvement.
The Environment
Most people would find the environment on the
Greenland ice cap rather inhospitable. As you might expect,
it is fairly cold, with frequent storms that make working
conditions challenging, to say the least. Yet Camp Raven is
fairly unique among the polar ice cap facilities. Due to its
relatively low latitude, it can actually get quite warm here in
the summer. On a sunny day in mid-summer, temperatures
can soar into the mid-40s (68C). The sun is reflecting
everywhere, which makes it feel much warmer. It may not
sound like a scorcher by lower 48 standards, but I assure
you that this is T-shirt weather.
Of course, the wholesale snow melting caused by such
warm temperatures creates numerous operational
problems, and may be indicative of serious implications for
the entire planet. Indeed, at other Greenland ice camps, such
as Summit Camp, global climate change is a major focus of
scientific research. That however, is another story.
While Raven may be located in the banana belt of the
polar ice cap camps, it is still no picnic. Typical temperatures
at camp put-in can be as low as -40F (-40C). All outside
work (and its all outside until the structures are erected)
must be performed in heavy, specialized, extreme cold
weather gear. Everything must be done with gloves on, or
very, very quickly with gloves off. It is an acquired skill that
requires speed, dexterity, and a certain insensitivity to cold.
The weak ones are quickly weeded out.
Having Fun at Raventhe put-in crew, from left, Dave Tricky

Ricke, Geordan Hollandaise McQuiston, and the author. Fun
is a sickeningly sweet concentrated beverage from Denmark.
Only in extreme latitudes does this kind of PV orientation

make sense. It captures solar energy throughout the day,
without any complicated mechanisms. It is robust enough to
stand up to the severe weather, and even works on overcast
days due to the reflected light.
Dealing with mechanical equipment here can be an

extremely frustrating experience. Track dozers10,000 to
15,000 pound, rubber-tracked machines, equipped with a
blade on the front for moving snoware critical for the
operation of the runway and camp. To get a track dozer
going following a storm, we must first dig out the support
equipment (snowmobile, generator, and 500,000 BTU
gasoline-fired Herman Nelson heater), and get it over to the
piece of equipment to be brought on line. If youre lucky, the
Hermie will start, and the generator can be warmed up. In
temperatures below -13F (-25C), even the Hermie wont
start. We often have to warm the Hermie to warm the
generator to warm the track dozer. It can take several hours
to get the desired piece of equipment up and running
another reason why RE is such appropriate technology.
Eventually, the support equipment is all running, and
plugged in or blowing hot air on the critical places. At that
point, we start digging out the track dozer and any other
equipment we want to use in conjunction with it. In all, up
to three hours might be spent just getting ready to do the
www.homepower.com
39
polar power
All that Ive written so far paints a pretty bleak picture of
the environment. But there is also a very special beauty to
the ice cap. The light can create color hues and visual effects
seen nowhere else on this planet. Indeed, at times it feels like
another world. In the calm that follows a storm, ice crystals
are still settling back through the lower atmosphere. Sun
dogs, perihelions, and glories can light the sky like a 360
degree rainbow.
RE System
The system employed at Camp Raven is straightforward
and uses good quality components. As such, the operation is
fairly simple and requires very little maintenance. Since this
camp is erected and disassembled every season, efforts have
been made to make the electricity generating system quickly
deployable.
Wind Generator
The Bergey 1500a reliable turbine, in service for four years.
work we need to do. Think about that the next time the daily
commute starts to get to you. Is it any wonder we love our
RE system, which has been on line, doing its job the whole
time, with no fuss, no muss? If we could just figure out a
way to power the track dozer with RE
The ice cap can be a hostile and often unforgiving
environment. Nothing grows there. There are no permanent
animal inhabitants. The birds that get blown inland from the
coast rarely have the reserves to make it back. But what this
area does have is abundant sun, wind, and water (albeit tied
up as snow and ice).
The summer average wind speed is approximately 15
knots, or 16.5 mph (7.4 m/s). Windstorms can frequently
exceed 50 knots, or 55 mph (24.5 m/s). Any time wind
speeds rise above 25 knots, visibility drops rapidly, and
outside work becomes nearly impossible. The winter
average wind speed is very high. Several science groups
have attempted to use small wind turbines from various
manufacturers for their unmanned sites. To my knowledge,
none have yet survived a single winter. The search
continues for a small wind turbine tough enough to make it
here year-round.
40
Since wind is a very consistent companion at the site, it

was chosen as the primary renewable energy source. The
wind generator is a Bergey 1500 model. It is capable of
generating 1.5 KW of 3-phase AC electricity. This is then
routed through a 3-pole, double-throw, safety/transfer
switch and a 3-phase breaker disconnect. Both of these
switches are mounted at the base of the tower.
The primary purpose of the transfer switch is to provide
a means of shorting the windings of the generator,
effectively slowing or locking the blades of the turbine. This
is an essential element for the seasonal disassembly of the
wind generator. While wind speeds are definitely high in
the summer, they are literally off the charts in the winter
gales. While the Bergey might just be tough enough to
survive, there are no loads to power during that time
anyway. We think its prudent to remove the blades at camp
close-out. They are reinstalled at the beginning of each
season.
To increase overall system efficiency, most of the major loads at

Camp Raven are run on DC.
polar power
At the base of the tower, the input from the wind turbine
goes to the middle set of contacts in the transfer switch.
These contacts are continuously energized when the turbine
is spinning. The bottom set of contacts shorts the windings
together, while the top set connects to the breaker/
disconnect. The purpose of the breaker/disconnect is to
provide a simple method of disconnecting the wind
generator from the rest of the system, as well as providing
overcurrent protection.
Tech Specs
System Overview
System type: Off-grid PV/wind hybrid
Location: Camp Raven, Greenland
Solar resource: 20 average annual peak sun
hours, mid-April through mid-August
Tower
Wind Turbine
The wind generator is mounted on top of a square,

reinforced tower. The tower is 16 inches (41 cm) on each
side, and fairly robust. It is also guyed with steel cable at
two elevations on the tower, which run down to dead men
anchors4 foot (1.2 m) long sections of pressure-treated 4 x
4 inch (10 x 10 cm) lumberplaced deep in the snow.
The present height of the tower is approximately 26 feet
(8 m), about 10 feet (3 m) less than when it was extended in
2001. Therefore, the accumulation of snow in the immediate
camp area is about 5 feet (1.5 m) per year, or nearly 12/3
times the accumulation in the general area. Since wind
power has been used at this site for many years, there is no
telling how deeply the tower extends into the ice cap. I
would guess that it goes down a minimum of 30 feet (9 m),
and possibly farther.
The 3-phase AC electricity created by the wind generator
is delivered to the main Weather-Port tent structure via a
6/4 (#6, 4 conductor) SO cable. The cable was buried this
year in an attempt to facilitate set-up, and alleviate
problems with snow removal around camp. The camp
essentially gets buried with each windstorm. Everything,
including the structures, must be dug out with track dozers
and shovels on a regular basis. It can be a monumental effort
just to keep the camp and equipment on the surface.
Extra cable is coiled on the tower, as well as on a 4 by 4 inch
(10 x 10 cm) post that marks the southeast corner of the main
Weather-Port structure. These extra coils of wire are there to
allow further extensions as the snow continues to accumulate.
Once inside the structure, the 3-phase AC output is
converted to DC by the Bergey VCS 1.5 system controller.
This device is essentially a sophisticated rectifier/regulator.
The nominal system voltage is 24 VDC, but the maximum
voltage delivered to the battery bank has been set at 27.3
VDC, as required by the sealed gel-cell batteries.
Turbine: Bergey 1500

Rotor diameter: 10 feet (3 m)
Average KWH per month: 174 at 12 mph (5.35
m/s)
Peak KW rating and wind speed: 1.5 KW at 28
mph (12.5 m/s)
Wind turbine controller: Bergey VCS 1.5
Tower: 32 foot Rohn, guyed lattice
PV System
The wind-electric system is augmented by a small
photovoltaic (PV or solar-electric) system, which allows for
battery charging on the relatively rare days when there is
little or no wind. The location of the camp at a fairly high
latitude on the ice cap creates some interesting factors for
mounting a PV array. The sun changes its angle (elevation)
in the sky quite rapidly over the course of the summer
season. Also, by mid-May, useable solar energy is available
for 340 degrees. The sun is only just dipping below the
horizon before rising again. At summer solstice, there is 24hour-a-day sun.
Photovoltaics
Modules: 3 Solarex SX120U, 120 W STC, 24 VDC
nominal
Array: 360 W STC, 24 VDC nominal
Array combiner box: Xantrex TCB6 with 10 A
fuses
Array disconnect: Xantrex DC250 enclosure with
two 60 A breakers
Array installation: custom ground mount, east,
south and west facing, 90 degree tilt angle
Balance of System
Inverter: Xantrex DR2424, 24 VDC nominal input,
120 VAC nominal output
PV charge controller: Xantrex C40, PWM
Wind charge controller for diversion load
regulation: Xantrex C60, PWM
System performance metering: Xantrex TM500,
AH meter
Engine generator: Honda EM3500, 3.5 KW,
120/240 VAC nominal, average annual run time
approximately 100 hours
Energy Storage
Batteries: Twelve, Deka Dominator gel-cell,
12 VDC nominal, 100 AH at the 20-hour rate
Battery pack: 24 VDC nominal, 600 AH total
Battery/inverter disconnect: Xantrex DC250, 250
A breaker
A very simple arrangement is used to gain near

maximum insolation over the course of the day. Three, 4 by
4 inch (10 x 10 cm) posts are set in an equilateral triangle,
about midway between the wind turbine tower and the
main Weather-Port (and battery bank). The three Solarex
SX120U panels are mounted facing outwards from the
triangle and are oriented perpendicular to the snow surface.
www.homepower.com
41
polar power
Photovoltaics:
Three Solarex SX120U,
120 W each, wired for
360 W total at 24 VDC
PV Combiner Box:
Trace TCB6,
three 10 A fuses
BERGY
1500
Generator:
Honda EM3500,
gasoline powered,
3.5 KW
at 120/240 VAC
Diversion
Controller:
Xantrex C60,
60 A, PWM
Wind Generator:
Bergey 1500, 1.5 KW
at 28 mph (12.5 m/sec),
3-phase wild AC
G N H
Wind Controller:
Bergey VCS 1.5,
3-phase wild AC input,
1.5 KW at 24 VDC output,
Inverter: Xantrex DR2424,

2.4 KW, 24 VDC input, 120 VAC
modified square wave output
G
N
H
trace
DR 2424
G
N
H
VCS 1.5
27.5
Amp-Hour Meter:
Xantrex TM500
60 A
2A
PV Controller:
Xantrex C40,
40 A, PWM
H3 H2 H1
Breaker:
60 A,
to 24 VDC
loads
Outlet:
Double-gang,
120 VAC
AC Panel:
Two 15 A breakers,
to 120 VAC loads
Note: All numbers are rated, manufacturers specifications,

or nominal unless otherwise specified.
Shunt:
RJ-11 connection
Batteries:
Twelve Deka Dominator,
gel-cell, 100 AH each at 12 V,
wired for 600 AH at 24 VDC
The RE power panel travels to the camp site almost completely assembled.
It takes only six connections to make it operational.
42
Wind
Generator
Brake
Switch:
Shorts 3
phases
250 A
80 A
Diversion Load:
Enermaxer
1,800 W
H1 H2 H3
Wind Breaker:
3-pole, 60 A
This arrangement takes great

advantage of the low sun angle and
reflected light from the snow. Indeed,
even on overcast days, there is so
much reflected light between the
surface and the clouds that the PV
panels continue to produce at near
maximum rated output. On a really
good solar day, the reflected light, in
combination
with
the
cold
temperatures, has these panels far
exceeding the manufacturers claims
for sustained output.
The 24 volt panels are wired in
parallel inside a Xantrex TCB6 PV
combiner box. Another run of 6/4 SO
cord carries the output to the Xantrex
C40 charge controller mounted on the
power panel inside the Weather-Port.
The idea with this PV system is to
provide a modest solar input over the
entire course of the day, rather than the
maximum output over a few hours.
While it is possible to use a 360 degree
tracking array, the simplicity and
robust nature of this arrangement
seems to make more sense for this
location.
polar power
In installations I have done in Antarctica, conventional
arrays, angled perpendicular to the sun, tend to act like
large wings. I have actually had whole structures weighing
several tons move by several meters, due to the force of the
wind. It speaks to the quality of the array mount, but is a
rather disconcerting experience for the occupants of the
structure. Another lesson learned. If mounted on a
nonpermanent structure, we typically either lay PV arrays
out flat or perpendicular to the surface.
Battery & Inverter

The battery bank consists of twelve, 12 volt, 100 amphour batteries, wired in a series/parallel configuration. The
result is a 24 volt, 600 amp-hour bank. These relatively
small, gel-cell batteries were chosen to facilitate
transportation by air, and because the battery bank must be
assembled on site each season (carrying the batteries by
hand).
The DC electricity from the batteries is converted to AC
electricity by a Xantrex DR 2424 inverter. This unit is capable
of producing 2.4 KW at 117 volts continuously, and can
surge to nearly double that figure. This is more than enough
for any loads at camp. Of course, if the inverter is used for
high output purposes (such as plugging in a vehicles block
heater, running the AC space heater, electric toaster, etc.), it
will very quickly deplete the relatively small battery bank,
particularly if the wind generator is not producing full
output. This is not to say that large loads cannot be
operated, just that it requires careful monitoring of the
system to ensure that the batteries are not over-discharged.
Sealed gel-cell batteries can be certified
for air transportation.
Polar Code
I realize that the more code conscious readers
are probably thinking, You cant do that! Of
course you cant, but we can! There are many
aspects of setting up a temporary RE system in
this type of environment that differ from
setting up a permanent system back stateside.
We used #4/0 (107 mm2) welding cable for the
DC battery interconnects and inverter cabling.
The use of welding cable is pretty standard in
polar environments. The cable is very tough,
and remains flexible in extreme cold. It
typically would not meet code back home, even
though in my opinion it is a much better
material to use than large gauge, UL-approved,
house-type wiring. Stiff plastic insulation just
explodes when you try to bend it at -40F!
The Bergey and PV array feed into the power
panel through SO type cord. The use of this
type of conductor is probably not code
compliant either, but it has been used fairly
extensively (and successfully) in the polar
regions for this type of installation. Again, its
tough and fairly flexible. Its rated UV resistant,
and can even handle direct burial in snow. I
dont imagine there is any UL rating for this
application anyway, so we just use what
works.
There is no real system grounding, because
there is no real ground. Terra firma is below
7,000 feet (2,100 m) of ice. That would be a
mighty long ground rod, and since it would be
solid, frozen bedrock, it still wouldnt ground
well. Since the electrical inspector doesnt get
out this way, we basically treat the system as if
it were in a boat or RV. All the normal ground
points are made in boxes and fixtures. The DC
load center provides the main chassis ground
for the DC side of the system. The AC breaker
box provides the bonding point for the ground
and neutral of the AC side.
There is no use of conduit anywhere, since this
system is set up and taken down annually. It
has to be fast, not pretty. Many things were
done to make this an expeditious setup, but
they would never fly back in the civilized
world. Readers, do not duplicate every aspect
of this system for your RE systemyour
electrical inspector will never pass it. Still, the
Camp Raven system is as safe and reliable as
we could reasonably make it. It works quite
well.
www.homepower.com
43
polar power
Camp Raven Max. Loads
DC
Watts
Enermaxer DC dump load*
1,800.0
Engel fridge/freezer
Hrs.
/Day
Daily WH
10.00 18,000.0
pressurized, ultimately blowing out one of the crankshaft oil

seals. This was another lesson learned the hard way.
A 20 foot (6 m) long, yellow, 12/2 SO cord hangs from a
pole beside the Weather-Port. It plugs into the generator
with a 30 amp twist-lock plug. Two, 20 amp breakers
mounted on the power panel provide overcurrent
protection to the AC loads inside the structure.
31.2
12.00
374.4
ICOM HF radio receive
340.0
1.00
340.0
ICOM HF radio transmit
22.0
8.00
176.0
DC Loads & Wiring
Ground band radio transmit
5.0
24.00
120.0
Telex transmit
9.5
12.00
114.0
Telex receive
As many Camp Raven loads as possible run on DC, to

increase efficiency. The Xantrex DC disconnect box is set up
to operate as a DC load center. A 250 amp breaker provides
the main disconnect from the batteries. Two 60 amp
breakers are the disconnect for the solar array and a 24 VDC
circuit for communications equipment.
This is a much more efficient arrangement than
converting the DC to AC via the inverter, and then back to
DC again via power supplies (rectifier/regulators) to feed
the DC requirements of the communications gear. For
example, the HF radio draws 340 watts on transmit mode
when operated on DC. To operate on AC, a power supply
must be added (basically a rectifier/regulator). The
combined AC requirement of the radio and power supply
increases the input wattage to 2,280! (Its hard to believe, but
the figures were taken right out of the manual, honest.)
Aside from being an incredible energy hog, it also
80.0
1.00
80.0
Air band radio transmit
9.0
8.00
72.0
Air band radio receive
36.0
1.00
36.0
Ground band radio receive
25.0
1.00
25.0
Total DC
19,337.4
AC
Electric heater**
1,500.0
2.00
3,000.0
IBM Thinkpad computer
72.0
12.00
864.0
Gateway Solo computer
50.0
12.00
600.0
1,480.0
0.10
148.0
18.0
6.00
108.0
5.0
12.00
60.0
Microwave
Boom box stereo
Iridium phone transmit
3 CF lights
15.0
4.00
60.0
240.0
0.25
60.0
2 Radio charger transmit
3.0
12.00
36.0
2 Radio charger receive
28.0
1.00
28.0
Iridium phone receive
24.0
1.00
24.0
DeWalt charger
2 Radio charger transmit
2.0
12.00
24.0
Davis WX station
1.8
12.00
21.6
35.0
0.50
17.5
15.0
1.00
15.0
120.0
0.01
1.2
Total AC
5,067.3
Grand Total
24,404.7
Makita charger
2 Radio charger receive
Coffee grinder
Dave Ricke removes the Bergeys blades at the end of the

season. The generator itself will stay over the winter.
* Used only when winds are high and temperatures are low.
** Rarely used; if winds are high, sun is out, temps are low.
The inverter can also operate as a three-stage battery

charger. When AC electricity is applied to the inverters AC
input, via a Honda 3.5 KW generator, the inverter
automatically switches to charger mode, while
simultaneously energizing a 30 amp bypass relay. This
allows the generator to power any loads, maximizing the
running efficiency, and allowing the batteries uninterrupted
charging.
The generator has its own specially built sled and vented
enclosure. If the temperatures are below 5F (15C), the
generator must be run inside this enclosure, or the crankcase
breather will freeze up. This causes the engine to become
44
polar power
Until next yearvery little other than the wind generator and
the PV mount stays at Camp Raven over the arctic winter.
essentially puts an electric space heater in with the

equipment we want to keep cool. We still have the ability to
run all of the communications gear on AC if necessary.
An 80 amp breaker in the DC disconnect box is for a DC
diversion load. When wind speeds are high, temperatures
inside the Weather-Port tend to be low. By throwing that
breaker, excess energy is routed to a Xantrex C60, set up in
diversion mode. From there, it feeds an Enermaxer 1,800
watt diversion load. This is basically an electric space heater,
controlled by the Xantrex C60. If battery voltage gets too
low, the C60 will reduce output to the Enermaxer. A Xantrex
system meter allows for monitoring of system voltage, amps
in and out, and the state of charge of the battery bank.
The power panel is set up as a complete unit. The
protective plywood box serves as the base when the panel is
set up for use. It allows for easy transport when not in use.
The system only requires six cable connections on site. The
only downside is that it is rather heavy. Its about all two
people can do to carry it across soft, uneven snow.
Other camp loads are fairly minimal, including a few

lights (compact fluorescent), a stereo, coffee grinder, and
occasional power tool use. The two heavy hitters for AC are
the microwave and the electric space heater. I know what
youre thinking, but the space heater is used only when
wind speeds are quite high, and we have energy to burn.
Hey, its free at that point, so why not?
The load table shows all of the equipment we use. Please
note that this is probably not representative of an average
day. This is the absolute maximum amount of energy that
we use on a busy flight day. If the winds are high enough to
be using the electric heaters, the aircraft are not flying due to
poor visibility (blowing snow), so the communications gear
is not as active.
Basically, we have plenty of energy, as long as we
recognize the limitations of the system. The system has been
very reliable so far. We had a problem with fuses blowing
out in the crowbar circuit of the VCS 1.5 controller for the
Bergey two years ago. I called the technical support folks at
Bergey from the field via the Iridium telephone. They
determined what the problem was, and also advised on
recalibrating the set points for our type of batteries. It was
good support. We replaced the faulty unit with a new one,
and had the defective unit rebuilt at the factory as a backup.
There have been no problems since that time.
Global Example
The Camp Raven RE system is clean, efficient, and very
reliable. It uses natural resources that are abundant here. In
short, this is appropriate technology in action. The National
Science Foundations Office of Polar Programs would like to
see renewable energy in more widespread use throughout its
operations. It is our hope that all polar field camps will be able
to go this route in the near future. It would be a worthwhile
investment, for as any researcher in global climate change will
tell you, as go the polar regions, so goes the world.
System Operation
While the electrical system at Camp Raven has the
ability to use a backup generator, we have not had to do so
for the last three years. The generator is sometimes used to
operate electric block heaters on equipment, or for power
tools away from the main camp. It has not been necessary to
use it for basic camp infrastructure functions.
The critical camp load is the communications
equipment. The equipment consists of one HF radio, two
VHF radios (air and ground bands), an Iridium satellite
telephone, and an Inmarsat Telex system. We also run a little
Engel fridge/freezer on DC. This unit draws an incredibly
small amount of energy. We could probably support a larger
unit, but there is simply not enough space. Besides, theres a
pretty big freezer just outside the door
There are also numerous handheld radios that must be
recharged. And two laptop computers are on fairly
continuously throughout the day. One laptop has an Internet
link through the Iridium phone, which allowed me to
communicate with Home Power editors. The data transfer
speed is, wellpardon the punglacial. The other laptop is
for the Telex.
Access
Tracy Dahl ts_dahl@yahoo.com www.nsf.gov/od/opp
See photos under Raven 2001 at
www.summitcamp.org/photoalbum
National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs,
Arctic Sciences Section, 4201 Wilson Blvd. #755, Arlington,
VA 22230 703-292-8029 Fax: 703-292-9081
dfriscic@nsf.gov www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/start.htm
sunelec.com
Liquidation Sale
Inverters, Solar Panels, Wind Generators
305 536-9917
www.homepower.com
45
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Thermoelectric
Generators
A thermoelectric generator connected to the geothermal hot water supply of a summerhouse in SW Iceland provides continuous power
of 5 to 15 watts, depending on the temperature of the outside air. The most energy is supplied on the coldest days.
Bjarni Thor Hafsteinsson &

Arni Geirsson
2004 Bjarni Thor Hafsteinsson &

Arni Geirsson
any renewable energy enthusiasts have heard

about the thermoelectric effect. It is best known
for its use in cooling microprocessors in computers and
food in portable refrigerators. A lesser-known reverse
effect induces voltage in thermoelectric materials when
one end is kept hot and the other cold.
If one side of a thermoelectric cell, often referred to as a

Peltier cell, is kept hot and the other side cold, a
voltmeter connected across it will show the preference
of the electrons to cuddle up on the warm side. This
allows electricity to be extracted from the cell as long as
the temperature difference across it is maintained.
48
Thermoelectric Generator Applications
Generator
Hot In
Valve
Cold In
Generator
Valve
Valve
Valve
Pump
Radiator
A thermoelectric generator makes electricity

using a source of heat and a cold water flow.
Possibilities & Limitations

This sounds good so far, but how much energy can we
get? The honest answer is: not a lot, but it can be useful in
many cases. A fundamental law of physics, known as
Carnots law, puts an upper limit on output from devices
that use a temperature difference as the primary input. For
example, if the difference is between boiling and freezing
temperatures of water, then at most, 27 percent of the heat
flowing from the hot side to the cold side can be converted
into electricity.
Thermoelectric devices do even less, or about one-fifth
of Carnots maximum. Now, lets hear the good news.
Thermoelectric cells are elegant in their simplicity. They
are usually flat, thin, square modules, about 1/8 inch (3
mm) thick and 1 to 2 inches (2.55 cm) on each side. With
just two wires sticking out, they have no moving parts at
all. Unlike turbine systems, thermoelectric cells are
modular to the single-cell level, and can be used for very
small systems.
Boiler/
Stove
Radiator
Hot Water
Through
Loop
A thermoelectric generator system supplies electricity

to a circulation pump installed in a boiler/stove radiator system.
Varmaraf, a small company in Iceland, has been

developing such devices for almost three years. The devices
turn out to be applicable much more widely than just in
Iceland. The design uses geothermal water (above 60C;
140F) as the medium that carries heat to the device. The
heat must also be carried away, and cold water is very
suitable for that. Air may be more convenient in some cases,
but not nearly as effective. The resulting devices have been
put to good use in a number of applications.
Varmarafs generators are unique in using water as the
heat transfer medium. This makes them suitable for tapping
into many heat sources. Other companies and laboratories
have made experiments with water-based generators, but
there have been no commercial products.
Iceland: Hot & Cold

You may be thinking, Why not
have the sun heat up one side while the
other side remains cold in the shadeor
even with a fan? The short answer is
that for a number of reasons, you are
better off converting that sunlight into
electricity
using
photovoltaics.
However, other heat sources, such as
waste heat from various processes and
geothermal heat, are good for
thermoelectrics because they are
available more consistently than
sunlight, and are potentially more
economical.
Iceland lies in the North Atlantic,
close to the polar circle. It has
abundant geothermal energy, but little
sunlight in wintertime due to its high
latitude. There is also plenty of cold
water, and a stiff cool breeze is more
common in the climate than the locals
would like. The result is that Iceland
makes a very interesting development
site for thermoelectric generators.
Hot condensate from a geothermal well head is siphoned through this generator
to supply electricity for instrumentation.
www.homepower.com
49
Self-Powered Heating
The climate in Iceland, perhaps surprisingly, is cool but
not cold. Houses must be heated year-round, and for that,
the geothermal water offers unique luxury. In many places,
there are hot water wells, and in the countryside, cottages
tend to cluster in places where hot water is available. The
preferred way of heating is to route hot water through wallmounted radiators. However, such rural hot water supplies
are not the most reliable, so it is usually necessary to use a
closed loop with antifreeze. This loop is heated with water
from the geothermal supply using a heat exchanger.
But here is the snag. Circulation requires pumping, and
pumping requires electricity. In a cottage off the grid, the
electrical pump could be powered by photovoltaics or wind,
but in fact, a thermoelectric generator is the ideal source of
electricity.
The scheme is simple. An air-cooled generator is put on
the geothermal hot water supply line. This pipe is always
kept hot by allowing some hot water to flow to prevent
freezing. Hence, the generator charges the battery
constantly.
The real beauty is that the greatest power is produced
when there is the most cooling, namely in wintertime. That
is also when the cottage owner needs the most heating, and
the extra electricity for lighting and other things is most
Power Output
The output from a thermoelectric generator is
highly dependent on the temperature difference
or Delta T (T) between the hot side and the cold
side. First of all, the conversion efficiency is
largely proportional to T. This efficiency is
around 3 percent at 80C (144F) difference,
which means that 3 percent of the heat flow
from the hot side to the cold side becomes
electrical energy. At T = 40C (72F), this is
therefore 1.5 percent and so on.
The heat flow, of which this fraction becomes
electrical energy, is also proportional to T. By
multiplying the two, the output from a
thermoelectric cell is proportional to T
squared. So it is very important to receive the
heat at as high a temperature as possible, and
dump it at as low a temperature as possible. For
the cooling, cold water is much more effective
than air, but adds the extra cost of maintaining a
cold flow.
This generator is water cooled for maximum temperature difference.

Larger versions are available.
useful. The generator only produces 5 to

15 watts, depending on the temperature of
the hot water and the efficiency of the
cooling. Do not forget though, that this
device is on 24 hours a day. With its roundthe-clock operation, the thermoelectric
generator is the equivalent of having a PV
panel with an average output rating that is
twenty times greater than this small
generator.
Not Only Geothermal

Wait a minute. Geothermal hot water is
not commonly available! True. But there
are useful applications where water is
heated in stoves or boilers. Take a cottage
with multiple rooms and a good oil stove
with a boiler. Spreading the heat into the
rooms with a system of radiators is a good
way to ensure comfort. Creating a
thermosyphon, where hot water rises from
the stove and sinks in the radiators, is the
classic way to maintain circulation in such
systems. This requires rather bulky piping.
Laying it out in a manner that ensures
good function is something of a black art.
Even when successful, a thermosyphon
feed is slow to start and can be difficult to
control.
Here, the solution is to install an aircooled thermoelectric generator just
50
The Seebeck & Peltier Effects
The Seebeck effect occurs when junctions of two
dissimilar materials are formed, and a temperature
gradient is established within the loop. This is
shown in the diagram below. If the two junctions are
maintained at a different temperature (Th > Tc), then
there is a voltage (V) created between points 1 and 2
according to the equation: V = (Th-Tc).
If the loop is connected to an external electrical
resistance, then electrons flow in the loop and the
device functions as a generator, converting
thermal energy to electrical energy. is called the
Seebeck coefficient of the junction, which is
dependent upon the two materials in the loop. In
order to have as large as possible, specialized
Seebeck Effect
semiconductor materials have been developed

and are used in thermoelectric devices.
The direction of voltage and current in a Seebeck
device is fixed, and there is no tendency for any
reverse current operation, thus no need for diodes.
The module behaves more or less like a battery with
the same voltage/current characteristics.
The Peltier effect is the reverse of the Seebeck
effect. In the diagram below, the same loop has
been connected to a DC voltage source. When there
is a current (I) through the loop, heat is absorbed at
one end of the junction and liberated at the other.
Thus, the device can now function as a refrigerator,
pumping heat (Q) from the colder junction to the
hotter junction.
Peltier Effect
Qh
Th
Tc
1
Qc
Th
Tc
1
above the boiler. After the boiler is

fired up, the water rises naturally into
the generator, which is directly
connected to a small centrifugal
pump, such as an El-Sid from Ivan
Labs.
In 2 to 5 minutes, enough water
has risen to the thermoelectric
generator to exceed the starting
voltage of the pump. As it starts
pumping, more hot water reaches the
generator and the voltage rises.
Suddenly, there is vigorous pumping
in the system and the heat spreads
quickly to the radiators. A small, 3.5
watt centrifugal pump, slightly
modified to lower the startup
voltage, does the trick. (The
modification is a slight realignment
of the magnetic Hall sensors within
the pump.) The beauty in this
arrangement is that the system is
self-sufficient. No interaction is
required by the user, and there is no
battery to worry about.
Heat drawn from a volcano is used with cold air from a glacier
to provide electricity for instrumentation and telemetry for scientists.
www.homepower.com
51
Electrical Interfacing
Thermoelectric cells exhibit a linear characteristic between the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current.
In contrast, photovoltaic arrays have a characteristic with a knee at which the maximum power point is
located. The linear characteristic of the thermoelectric cell results in maximum power output when the voltage
under load is half the open circuit voltage, and consequently, the current is half the short circuit current. This is
achieved when the external and internal resistances are the same.
The easiest electrical interfacing is achieved by wiring the cells to induce 24 volts in open circuit at the nominal
hot/cold temperatures. When connected to a charge controller, the current drawn is that which drops the voltage
to about 12 volts. This places the operating point at the maximum power point.
drawn from the volcano below using a thermosyphon,

and is dumped into the glacier.
A new generator from Varmaraf was installed there
recently. A similar generator has been used as a power
supply for well-top instrumentation using the boiling hot
condensate effluent from the well silencer. These can hardly
be referred to as home power, but the message lies in the
versatility thus demonstrated.
Another RE Tool?
When considering thermoelectric generators:
In this nongeothermal application, an oil stove heats water

that rises into the thermoelectric generator to power
the pump, which sends the heated water to the homes
radiators, distributing the heat.
Food for the Imagination

Given a heat source, the possibilities are limited by the
imagination only. Remember that it is important to get the
temperature as high as possible as long as the temperature
range of the thermoelectric cell is not exceeded. Putting the
cell in direct contact with a hot metal surface can be difficult,
and subtle thermal effects can get in the way. We have had
interesting results by boiling water in a closed circuit to get
120C (248F) steam condensing in the generator. The
condensate flows back to the boiling section.
In this application, the Thermator L generator from
Varmaraf, the size of a can of beans, can produce over 30
watts continuously as long as the heat source is on. This
can be an important contribution to the energy supply of
a house relying on photovoltaics during the darker
months.
Scientific Applications
The ultimate in these kinds of applications is to be
found in the middle of Icelands largest glacier, on a very
active volcano. There, scientists have used a
thermoelectric generator for about twenty years to
generate electricity for instruments and telemetry. Heat is
52
Check the efficiency in the context of the entire system.

If the heat is supplied to the generator only, the
efficiency is usually quite low. If the heat is useful after
going through the generator, the efficiency is potentially
much better. The best opportunities exist when the
generator is applied in connection with a heating
system of some sort.
Work out the economics based on KWH per year rather
than peak power.
Check how the thermoelectric generator complements
other generators you may have in matching your
demand.
Note that a successful application requires basic
understanding of thermal engineering, which can be
subtle and slippery.
Thermoelectric generators are an interesting addition to
the options available to the renewable energy toolbox. The
limited conversion efficiency puts certain constraints on
feasible applications, but on the other hand, they may
complement nicely other means of generating small-scale
energy, especially where sunlight is scarce during
wintertime. The user must be especially mindful of
phantom loads that quickly eat up a large fraction of the
energy generated.
The user should expect to pay at least US$20 per watt of
maximum generating capacity. Varmaraf thermoelectric
generators range in cost from about US$300 to US$900,
depending on type and size. The energy generated is also
very dependent on temperature difference, flow rate, and
other factors that are different in every system. An endless
variety of different system configurations are possible, since
thermoelectric generators can be built into other systems,
like any other plumbing component.
As seen in HP 90, pg 50
Dealer Inquiries
Welcome
Access
Bjarni Thor Hafsteinsson, Chief Engineer, Varmaraf ehf,
Keldnaholti 112, Reykjavik, Iceland +354 553 4007 Fax:
+354 553 4062 bjarni@varmaraf.is www.varmaraf.is
See The Need for Winter Energy Supplement, Steve
Willey, HP36, page 47.
FuelCellStore.com, PO Box 4038, Boulder, CO 80306
866-327-3835 or 303 237 3834 Fax: 303 237 7810
info@fuelcellstore.com www.fuelcellstore.com
Varmaraf thermoelectric generators
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Malcolm Terence
2004 Malcolm Terence
Nestled in the tall redwood trees of a steep coastal rainforestthe perfect place to find a wizard of microhydro-electricity.
We drove down the winding, rutted, mountain road, like

Dorothy and her companions approaching Oz. We had left
behind sunny Santa Cruz, California, with its beach traffic
and tourists, and were creeping over the ridges into a shady,
steep canyon, thick with tall redwoods.
We were approaching the home and workshop of
inventor Don Harris, builder of the tireless little
hydroelectric plant Id bought more than fifteen years
earlier. The turbine had workedwith only a little
tinkeringever since, churning out more than 300 watts
continuously at my home in Northern California.
It had deliveredlet me do the math40 megawatthours, and outlasted every appliance or power tool Id ever
owned. But now it was broken. Wed neglected a worn
bearing too long, and the same water power wed harnessed
for years had started an oscillation that chewed up several
parts in a few noisy days while we were away.
He explained that nuclear promoters in the 1950s said

America could use reactors to make their own fuel and solve
all our energy and pollution problems at once. Somehow
Harriss claim to breeder sustainability seems less sinister
than the nuclear industrys.
Harris workshop, perched on a steep hillside in the Santa Cruz
Mountains, is powered entirely by one of his turbines.
He has produced more than 3,000 turbines here.
Hydro Breeder
Harris was standing in one of the few flat spots outside
his home when we arrived. Up theres where most of the
work gets done, he said with a nod, and down there is the
power plant for all our electricity. This is really a breeder
facilityusing hydro to build hydro.
56
hydro wizard
Harriss turbine looks like a streamlined bread machine
at the end of a 2 inch PVC pipeline that snakes down out of
the forest. An alternator like one in a car was bolted snugly
onto its top. Hidden underneath was a small bronze
waterwheel with a fringe of double cups, each the size of a
tablespoon. It sat near the edge of a tiny stream channel and
looked much like mine, but without the covering box Id
built to protect mine from the elements. I leave it out in the
weather and abuse it to see how it does, Harris said with a
grin. So far, so good.
The Hydro Doctor Is In

We pulled out a sack of parts from my turbine and he
pored over them like a pathologist. He carefully counted
and inspected the cups on the small brass waterwheel,
which is the real center of the turbine. Fifteen cups, he
said. Youve had this for some time. I switched to
seventeen cups to get a few percent better efficiency. He led
the way up to his shop, past shelves stacked with shiny new
housings and other components, and into a small room
crowded with machine tools.
I started back in 1981. Back then, I riveted the cups on
the wheels. I milled the cups one at a time for the first 50
wheels. I remember I got the idea from a book called Hydro
Power for Home Use. Nobody was building anything for
small creeks. Then we switched to castings, where we build
the wheels in wax and take them to a foundry where theyre
poured. First we used aluminum. Your wheel is the first
kind we cast from bronze. Bronze was a little more resistant
to erosion, and theres less electrolysis between the metals of
the wheel and the alternator shaft.
The wheels with their distinctive double cups, Harris
explained, were invented by Lester Pelton to win a federal
This generation of Harris turbines used Motorcraft alternators.

He has since switched to permanent magnet alternators for
increased efficiency, durability, and reduced maintenance.
Don Harris holds a turbine on its side to show the four-nozzle

layout designed for sites with high flow.
design contest in 1881. Another designer, Abner Doble,

refined the shape of the notch and the double elliptical
catches. One of Harris gifts is to say phrases like double
elliptical catches to people as though they understand
what that means.
Harris said that impulse turbines such as Pelton wheels,
as they are still called, and Turgo wheels are much more
tolerant of wear from silt in the water. The silt has a more
destructive effect on reaction-style turbines that use
propellers machined to very sensitive tolerances. Then he
looked grimly at the advanced wear on my wheel. It might
still have a few more years on it, he said. Deftly he ran a
shaft through the center of my wheel as an arbor and tested
it for balance. With the drill press he removed a little dimple
of brass near the center, tested again, drilled another place,
tested again, and declared it fine for use.
Since he started, Harris has built more than 3,000 of his
turbines for small hydro operations all over the west and as
far away as Appalachia. He started with automotive Delco
alternators, switching to Motorcraft alternators for big
wattage gains. Recently, he began using permanent magnet
(PM) alternators for even greater efficiency.
Head & Flow

He sells a range of hydroplants that go from a 12 volt,
single-nozzle model at around US$1,000 to a four-nozzle,
PM model that sells for US$2,020. The variables are the
amount of water and the amount of water pressure.
www.homepower.com
57
hydro wizard
Don Harris demonstrates the final truing of a new bronze wheel

on the machinists lathe in his workshop.
Pressure is a function of how far vertically above the turbine

the water enters the pipewhat hydro people call head.
The diameter, type, and length of the pipeline also affect the
pressure that can be delivered to the wheel.
One of Harris turbines was operated at 1,000 feet (305
m) of head at the Grand Canyon. It doesnt take very much
water to generate some electricity at that much pressure.
The nozzle was almost a pinhole (approximately 0.070
inches; 1.7 mm) to get 300 watts. When inquirers have less
than 25 feet (7.6 m) of head, Harris often refers them to Paul
Cunningham of Energy Systems & Design or Ron McLeod
of Nautilus Turbines because their machines are designed
for the higher flows needed to compensate for low head.
Harris reels off what he calls his basic law: potential
output in watts equals head in feet, multiplied by flow in
gallons per minute (GPM), divided by eight for a permanent
magnet model or by ten for an alternator.
Watts = Head x GPM 8 or 10
Inefficiencies creep into the equation, he says, but
because hydro works 24 hours a day, its output needs are
lower than solar or wind power to still achieve the same
daily energy generated. This is especially true at my home,
where the sun peeks over the ridge to the south for barely
two hours a day around winter solstice.
Quite a few of Dons systems operate with relatively low
flow, in the 3 to 4 gpm range. But with 300 feet (91 m) of
head, a Harris wheel can still generate more than 100 watts
(more than 2.4 KWH per day) at these low flow rates.
Positive Anarchy
Harris interrupted his explanation to examine the next
broken part in my bag, a tube that held the nozzle. A gaping
hole was worn in its side from the vibration. He shook his
58
head both at the level of wear and at

the age of my unit. We dont make
them like that any more. Let me build
you one and convert you to a hose
fitting. Itll hold up better if you get
vibration again.
Harris pulled a part out of a box on
the floor and mounted it on an ancient
machinists lathe. He tugged the belt to
overcome the motors inductive load
and start it in motion, and 60 seconds
later hed shaped the piece of a PVC
thread/slip adapter, designed for a
whole different purpose, into a nearperfect hose nipple.
Whered I put the hacksaw? he
asked no one in particular and said,
Its a little bit of anarchy in here,
with a gesture across the cluttered
shop. To Harris, anarchy is probably
high praise, if not a great organizing
principle for a shop.
Don Harris
Hydro System
Dons penstock (water delivery pipe) is 1,300 feet
(400 m) long, with 3 inch PVC reducing to a pair of
2 inch lines. The head (vertical drop) is 161 feet (49
m), and he uses a 5/16 inch (8 mm) nozzle
delivering 21 to 22 gpm at peak flow. Don is using
a single-nozzle for his permanent magnet
alternator, the first one of the current series, which
he built and installed two years ago. At peak flow,
the hydro plant produces 430 watts of 24 volt
electricity. In the dry season, he has seen his
output fall to 80 watts.
He uses a 200 foot (61 m) run of #4 (21 mm2)
copper wire to carry the output to a series of 20,
single-cell, nickel-iron batteries. Each is 1.2 volts
and 270 amp-hours. He says they are inefficient
and guzzle replacement water, but last forever and
are environmentally benign. Besides, he says,
they are easier to pack than an L-16 battery.
For the workshop machinery, a six-year-old Trace
SW4024 inverter gives Don AC. Battery voltage is
controlled with a 20-year-old Enermaxer
regulator. His house nearby still uses 12 volt DC
electricity, although he also uses a DR series Trace
2512 to provide some AC. On the roof of his
workshop, he has installed a 900 watt
photovoltaic array, but he hasnt needed them
enough yet to hook them up to his batteries.
hydro wizard
invention that begins in Nepal and ends in the Utah desert,
so Harris has dedicated months to constructing the next
generation of permanent magnet turbines, machines that
can be adjusted without being shut off. He pulled a
prototype out of another box of anarchy in the corner and
started explaining to me about magnetic lines of flux, a topic
that made me long for the simplicity of double elliptical
catches.
Although his father was a physicist working in optics,
Harris says he is mostly self-taught, with a few harmless
forays into Southern California colleges 40 years ago. Most
of what I know about mechanics and fabrication I learned
from building drag racers, he said as he buffed the hose
fitting, removed it from the lathe, and threaded in a 1/2 inch
(13 mm) nozzle. He handed it to me with a length of special
hose and a replacement field adjustment rheostat.
Finally we had all the histories, repaired parts, and
visions that we could manage, and we bid Don a goodbye
with an invitation to visit our canyon further north in
California someday. I remembered in the end that Dorothys
companions also got all they needed when they visited the
Wizard of Oz. I felt like a modern day scarecrow. Lets see,
I needed a brain, a 1/2 inch nozzle, and a new rheostat. Now
Im set.
Access
Malcolm Terence 831-420-1373
mterence@sccs.santacruz.k12.ca.us
Bliss Kok, Harris co-worker, carefully assembles the wax plug of
a turbine wheel. The wax is cast in plaster, then melted out,
after which the plaster mold is filled with bronze. A new wax
pattern is used for each wheel.
Don Harris, Harris Hydroelectric, 632 Swanton Rd.,

Davenport, CA 95017 831-425-7652
Don told a story about installing a system in Nicaragua

during the Contra War in an old Somoza regime hacienda
that had been taken over by peasants. When the Americanbacked Contras blew up the main utility lines nearby in
1987, the Harris system generated the only electricity in the
region. Soon after, Ben Linder, one of Harriss American coworkers, was assassinated by Contras. The Contras were
terrorists backed by Reagan, and the consequences of
terrorism, are borne by the common people, he concluded.
Vision
Harris said the switch to PM alternators delivered higher
wattage output with the same flow and pressure input. On
the other hand, it has more awkward controls than the
Delco-type system used on my machine, which adjusts with
the twist of a knob. The PMs require stopping the turbine for
each increment of adjustment. While he put the finishing
touches on the hose fitting, Harris announced that he was
working on a better PM system, one that came to him in a
vision.
Speaking over the hum of the lathe, Harris told a long
story that began, Once I gave five rupees to a beggar in
Nepal and ended several minutes later with on the
way back across Utah, I saw the Tibetan priest again
sprinkling out the dust. Its hard not to trust a vision for an
www.homepower.com
59
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From the
Ground Up
A Primer for Natural House Building

Rachel Ware & Laurie Stone
2004 Rachel Ware & Laurie Stone
This straw bale building creates a warm, quiet, nurturing environment for kindergarten students
at the Waldorf School in Colorados Roaring Fork Valley.
Many people, especially Home Power

readers, think about the energy they use
in their home. But how many people
think about the energy that goes into the
materials of the home itself? Embodied
energy, the energy consumed by
harvesting, transporting, manufacturing,
and disposal of materials, can be very
high in most conventional building
materials.
Fortunately, our homes dont need to be built out of just
concrete, wood, and fiberglass. Building with natural
materials, such as earth and straw, can reduce embodied
energy and create healthy, beautiful homes. If you plan to
use renewable energy and be energy efficient in your home,
consider starting from the ground up. Make your house as
sustainable and energy efficient as you can by building or
retrofitting with natural, low-energy materials.
62
Many natural materials can be used in construction.

Depending on your climate, you may want a highly
insulating material, a material with high thermal mass, or a
combination of both. Building codes and the materials
available locally are also considerations. This article
provides an overview of natural building materials and
methods. It is the first in a series of green building articles to
get you started on your way to a more natural, energy
efficient, and earth-friendly home.
A Good Pair of Boots

Foundations provide a solid base to support and
distribute the weight of a heavy structure. Concrete is the
most common material used to build modern-day
foundations. However, concrete is expensive, requires
significant manual labor, and is not very friendly to the doit-yourselfer. Portland cement (the key ingredient in
concrete) has an enormous amount of embodied energy (see
the table). Reducing the use of concrete in a foundation is
one of the first steps an owner-builder can take when
designing a natural structure. Using less concrete can reduce
cost, labor, and embodied energy.
natural building
For structural foundations that are also retaining walls,
using earth may not be feasible. However, many options are
available to reduce the use of, or avoid using concrete
altogether.
Foundations can be built with stone, over which
concrete can be poured or bags of earth can be set. Generally,
stone foundations are used for small houses or sheds. Drystacked stone is a time-tested method. Stone is strong,
usually locally available, and resistant to weathering.
Give your house a good

pair of boots and a good hat.
~ Old English saying
Rubble-trench foundations, popularized by Frank Lloyd
Wright, are trenches that extend below the frost line and are
filled with gravel and a sloped drainage pipe. A landscape
fabric (polypropylene lumber tarps, burlap, asphaltimpregnated felt) should be used to line the trench and act as
a filter to prevent loose soil from clogging up the drainage
pipe. The rubble is typically washed and compacted gravel,
but can also be washed stone or recycled, crushed concrete.
Rigid board insulation can separate the rubble or gravel
from the concrete slab or earth bag footer that completes the
foundation. You can create a drainage path to replace the
drainage pipe by placing large stones to create an air cavity
at the base of the trench. Rubble-trench foundations are not
specifically addressed in U.S. building codes, but they do
meet the intention of the U.S. building code. You may need
to provide additional documentation for inspectors.
Shallow, frost-protected foundations are typically made
of concrete, but use significantly less than conventional
foundations. By insulating the perimeter of the foundation
with both vertically and horizontally placed rigid board
insulation, the depth of the foundation, and therefore the
Two Rubble-Trench Foundation Options
This rammed earth, pressed block, home has a very cozy

and inviting interior.
Shallow Frost-Protected Foundation

with Rubble Trench Option
Cob, Rammed Earth,

Straw Bale or Adobe Blocks
Wood
Stone, Earth Bags,
or Tires Rammed with
Earth and Gravel
Concrete
Wall
(Wood, Straw, or Other)
Concrete with Rebar
or Fiberglass
Rigid Board
Insulation
Rigid Board
Insulation
Rubble with Assorted

Sized Stones
Perforated
Drain Line
Shallow Rubble Trench

Note: Walls for either option can be earthen/straw or timber-frame/stick-frame
www.homepower.com
63
natural building
Embodied Energy in
Building Materials
Material
Straw bale
67
Adobe block
117
Rammed earth
117
Local stone
219
Concrete
361
Plasterboard
This still-to-be-stuccoed straw bale home will keep the

Struempler family warm during the cold Colorado winters.
amount of concrete, may be reduced. This type of

foundation must be designed to accommodate the soils and
climates where it is used. It may be more acceptable than
rubble-trench foundations to urban building inspectors.
Polypropylene bags also known as sand bags may be
used as a footer to get straw bales or other natural building
materials up above ground moisture. This type of
foundation technique is gaining in popularity due to the
ease of construction and low cost.
First, a rubble trench is created to aid in draining
moisture away from below the frost line. The first two or
three courses of bags are then filled with gravel or rubble. As
each bag is filled, it is tamped, compacting the materials into
the bag, which acts as a simple form. The upper bags are
then filled and tamped with a clay and sand mixture. After
placement, the bags then need to be plastered to protect
them from sunlight, which can deteriorate the
polypropylene in a matter of months.
A Natural Enclosure
While the foundation of a building is like a good pair of
boots, crucial to the homes health, wall systems are the
flesh and bones of the building, and make up the bulk of the
material in a house. More and more people are turning to
the natural materials of earth and straw to build their walls.
1,694
Portland cement*
2,167
Plywood
2,889
Fiberglass insulation
8,416
*Worldwide production of cement is estimated to be responsible for

7 10% of the worlds CO2 emissions, second only to electricity generation.
Source: Centre for Building Performance Research
Straw bale homes can be extremely energy efficient.

Straw has very high insulating properties. Testing indicates
that a 2 foot (0.6 m) thick bale has an R-value of 2.4 per inch,
or over R-50 total. While R-values are often debatable, this
beats a wood frame wall with R-19 batts by a factor of three.
Overall, plastered straw bale construction creates an
excellent building envelope. It creates high R-values, a
nonconvective wall section, a low air leakage rate, and high
levels of thermal mass.
There are two basic ways to build with straw bales. One
is the Nebraska style, which uses the straw bales as the load
bearing structural walls. The more common method is stickframed or post and beam construction, using the straw bales
as an in-fill system, where the bales are not load bearing.
The post and beam construction supports the roof. The
straw bales merely act as an insulated wall between or
around the structural posts. The posts and beams can
consist of rough-cut timber, peeled logs, square or round
posts, or metal elements.
Adobes drying in the sun.
Straw Bale
Straw has been used as a building material for centuries.
In Europe, you can find houses built out of straw and reeds
that are over 200 years old. In the United States, the idea of
building straw houses started in the late 1800s in the
Nebraska Sandhills area in response to a shortage of
lumber. These Nebraska-style structures used bales like
bricks, and have the roof load bearing directly on their straw
bale walls.
Straw is generally a waste productits whats left after
grain is harvested. Its also a renewable resource that is
grown annually. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says
that straw from the harvest of major grains in the U.S. could
be used to construct four million, 2,000 square foot (186 m3)
homes each year.
64
Watt-Hr. / Kg
natural building
Left: Putting up
an adobe wall.
Right: Making
adobe blocks in a
wooden frame.
Adobe & Rammed Earth

Adobe blocks are clay, sand, straw, and water mixed
together into a pourable condition, shaped in a mold (or by
hand), and dried by the sun. The resulting blocks can be
almost any shape or size, but are normally 14 by 10 by 4
inches (36 x 25 x 10 cm). They can be laid up with cement or
mortar made of clay, sand, and water. Adobe, because of its
thermal mass properties, has the ability to absorb, store, and
release heat. Adobe bricks absorb the suns heat during
sunny winter days. When the temperature drops at night,
the bricks radiate their heat into the home. Likewise, adobe
construction helps keep homes cool in the summer, acting as
a heat sink.
Rammed earth walls also have very high thermal mass.

They are created by tamping earth, stabilized with a small
amount of Portland cement (about 5 percent), and
lubricated with a small amount of water, into forms defining
the walls. Rammed earth walls are typically 24 inches (61
cm) thick, labor intensive, and require extensive forming
and tools. Modern techniques for rammed earth use heavy
machinery (loaders), pneumatic tampers, and commercial
steel or wood forms.
Left: Rammed
earth construction
typically requires
industrial forms.
Right: A 24 inch
thick rammed
earth garden wall
ready for stucco.
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65
natural building
Building Codes
David Eisenberg
2004 David Eisenberg
The common perception is that building codes are

inconvenient and restrictive. To some degree they
are, especially when you are proposing natural
building materials or systems, or things outside
what is specifically covered by the codes.
However, you may find that building officials are
curious and eager to learn more about natural
building and the durability, health, and safety of
alternatively built homes.
Remember, building codes are designed to
protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
public. Alternative systems pose a challenge to
building officials for the following reasons.
The perception of risk. What is unfamiliar
represents the unknown, which always appears
riskier than the known, even when it isnt.
The burden of the process. Gaining formal code
acceptance for an alternative building material or
system requires a long, extensive, and costly
process. Few natural materials or building
systems have access to the kind of financial or
organizational resources that more mainstream,
industrial products have, so they usually lack any
official sanction or approval.
Information limitations. Alternatives typically
have less technical information available on
which building officials can rely to judge the
adequacy of the proposed new material or
method.
Time limitations. Building departments ordinarily
have limited time to deal with conventional plans,
much less the unusual ones requiring more time,
attention, and documentation.
The status quo. Its human nature to take comfort
in what is familiar. There will always be some
level of resistance to anything new or different.
Stucco can be
lime, gypsum, or
natural earth.
Straw-Clay & Cob

Straw-clay and cob combine the thermal mass qualities
of earth and clay with the insulative quality of straw to
make an exceptional building material. Modern straw-clay
construction is considered a European building system. It is
a nonstructural insulation/mass system that compresses a
mixture of clay and loose straw into a wall cavity.
Compressed straw is coated with a clay slip and compacted
into temporary wooden forms. The mixture typically
consists of approximately 80 percent straw and 20 percent
clay.
The word cob comes from an Old English root meaning
a lump or rounded mass. Its a simple, traditional,
building technique using hand-formed lumps or loaves of
earth mixed with sand and straw. Traditionally mixed with
your feet, cob differs from straw-clay in that the mixture
typically consists of approximately 80 percent clay and 20
percent straw. It dries to a hardness similar to lean
concrete, and is used like adobe to create self-supporting,
A straw-clay wall with one side of the form removed.
David Eisenberg is the executive director of the

Development Center for Appropriate Technology
(DCAT).
Rammed earth can also be used to make pressed blocks,

using hand-operated or motorized hydraulic machines.
Often the blocks can be made from soil taken directly from
the building site. Earth is fed into a block machine, which
compresses it and reduces the volume by 30 percent. After
they are pressed, the blocks are set aside to cure. The
building process is the same as with adobe blocks.
66
natural building
or course, solidify overnight. Depressions need to be jabbed
into the top of the damp course, and then the next course
will have something to key into. With cob, the wall is
typically wide at the base and becomes narrower with each
course.
Bamboo
As Darrel DeBoer describes in The Art of Natural Building,
bamboo is an extremely strong fiber, having twice the
compressive strength of concrete and roughly the same
strength-to-weight ratio of steel in tension. Among its
numerous benefits, bamboo is:
Renewable: it will grow 10 to 12 inches (2530 cm) a day
once a grove is established. The living stalks can be
harvested within three to four years.
Versatile: It may be manufactured into boards to be used
in floors, walls, and roofs.
Available worldwide.
In traditional Japanese farmhouses, bamboo was used
for structural components, roof trusses, and rafters. In the
U.S., bamboo has mainly been used as flooring or as an
alternative to rebar in straw bale and earthen walls.
Used as trim, bamboo can add exotic beauty to a home.
load-bearing walls. Cob has been used for centuries

throughout Western Europe, even in rainy and windy
climates, as far north as the latitude of Alaska. It is also a
great option for interior partition walls.
When you build walls of cob, it is recommended that
you construct your wall in lifts, applying a few feet of
material at a time to prevent slumping, and letting each lift,
Making cob
loaves that
can be thrown to
a person on a
ladder.
www.homepower.com
Photo courtesy of David Eisenberg of the Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT).
Having fun mixing cob the traditional way.
67
natural building
Wall R-Values
Natural Plasters
Cedar Rose Guelberth & Dan Chiras
2004 Cedar Rose Guelberth & Dan Chiras
Natural plasters, those made from natural

materials that generally require very little
processing, include three basic typesearthen,
lime, and gypsum. The oldest type of wall finish is
earthen. It was often used by early builders to
protect and beautify walls because its
componentssand, clay, and fiberwere readily
available throughout the world.
Over time, builders began to experiment with
various materials to create effective, durable
plasters. One locally available substance was
gypsum, used for interior plaster and to make
decorations on walls and ceilings. Another was
limestone. Lime, when mixed with water and
sand, makes an excellent durable interior and
exterior plaster and mortar.
Most earthen plasters consist of clay-rich dirt,
sand, and fiber mixed with water. Clay is the
binding agent and waterproofing, sand adds the
structural strength, and fiber provides tensile
strength and reinforcement. Fiber can consist of
materials such as dry straw, hemp fiber, cattails,
coconut fibers, or animal hair.
Other additives are often used to improve the
quality of plaster. Cooked flour paste, milk
powder, cactus juice, manure, and oils can all
increase the workability, durability, and water
resistance of an earthen plaster. The proportions
of these ingredients in your plaster will vary
depending on the ingredients themselves.
The advantages to using an earthen plaster over a
synthetic or cement based stucco, are numerous.
Earthen plaster is:
Protective
Durable
Recyclable
Easily repairable
Easy to clean up after
Safe to work with
Fun to work with
Inexpensive
Breathable
Easy to sculpt and carve
Environmentally beneficial
Wood frame, 2 x 6 in. studs w/ R-19 batts
R-Value
42.770.3
15.4
Adobe, 10 in. thick walls, insulated
11.9
Wood frame, 2 x 4 in. studs w/ R-11 batts
10.2
Adobe, 10 in. thick walls, uninsulated
3.5
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Recycled Materials
It is important to remember that some materials that
may not be considered natural are also used to build
sustainable, energy efficient, and quality buildings. Using
recycled or second-hand materials will cut costs, reduce
waste, and greatly lower the amount of embodied energy in
a building.
Not only are you reducing the amount of energy it takes
to manufacture a new product, you are negating the amount
of energy it would have taken in disposal of the reused
material. Used tires and aluminum cans (used in
Earthships) are only some of the recycled products that can
be used to build energy efficient sustainable homes.
A Healthy Coat & A Good Hat

Once the walls are up and the roof is on, its time to put
a healthy coat on your home. Covering a natural home with
cement-based stucco is one option. However, there are many
ways to cover a home with natural plasters. The three basic
types of plastersearthen, lime, and gypsumcan be used
on interior and exterior walls. They are durable and
weather-resistant (see sidebar).
Most homes built out of natural materials have roofs that
use conventional architecture and materials. It is important
to have larger than usual overhangs. Large overhangs
prevent bulk moisture damage to walls and foundation
systems. Another important detail is where the natural wall
meets the roof. There are many design considerations to this
detail, and this will be covered in a future article.
Natural Solutions
The most important thing to remember is that you dont
have to pick only one of these building materials. Hybrid
solutions, such as a straw bale home with cob to round out
the corners, or an adobe home, with a straw bale northern
wall for insulation, might work best for your location and
climate. Whichever natural building materials you choose,
youre sure to have a comfortable, beautiful, energy efficient
home just waiting for a renewable energy system to power it.
Cedar Rose Guelberth & Dan Chiras are the

authors of The Natural Plaster Book.
68
Construction
Straw bale
Access
Laurie Stone & Rachel Ware, Solar Energy International,
PO Box 715, Carbondale, CO 81623 970-963-8855 Fax:
970-963-8866 sei@solarenergy.org www.solarenergy.org
natural building
Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT),
PO Box 27513, Tucson, AZ 85713 520-624-6628 Fax:
520-798-3701 strawnet@aol.com www.dcat.net
The Art of Natural Building, edited by Joseph F. Kennedy,
Michael G. Smith, & Catherine Wanek, 2002, Paperback,
304 pages, ISBN 0865714339, US$26.95 from New Society
Publishers, PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R
1X0 250-247-9737 Fax: 250-247-7471
info@newsociety.com www.newsociety.com
The Hand-Sculpted House, Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, &
Linda Smiley, 2002, Paperback, 384 pages, ISBN 1-89013234-9, US$35 from Chelsea Green Publishing, PO Box 428,
White River Junction, VT 05001 800-639-4099 or
802-295-6300 Fax: 802-295-6444 info@chelseagreen.com
The Natural Plaster Book, Cedar Rose Guelberth & Dan
Chiras, New Society Publishers, 2003, Paperback, 304
pages, ISBN 0865714495, US$29.95 from New Society
Publishers, PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R
1X0 250-247-9737 Fax: 250-247-7471
info@newsociety.com www.newsociety.com
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Responsible
Wood Heating
A Kind-to-the-Environment Guide
John Gulland
2004 John Gulland
72
wood heat
Wood energy is the black sheep of
the renewable energy family. Of all
the renewable options, it causes
environmentalists the most discomfort. Mostly they worry that burning
wood means making a lot of smoke
pollution and cutting down precious
trees for fuel. Besides, woodstoves
are not as technologically sexy as
glittering solar panels and whirling
wind turbines. As one anti-wood
burning activist said at a public
meeting, We need to look to new
sources of energy, not old ones.
But wood can be a renewable fuel, and as all renewable
energy aficionados know, there arent too many options
available, especially ones good at providing bulk heat. In
practical terms, households hoping to run on renewable
energy in moderate and cold climate regions will likely rely
on wood fuel to some extent.
Copco Dave uses only a couple of cords a year to heat his

mountain cabin in southern Oregon. An efficient Jotul
woodstove provides lots of heat from not much fuel.
Can Wood Be Good?

The main gripe about wood heating is the smoke, which
can cause problems in your community and among neighbors. At the community level, topography and climate can
conspire to trap smoke close to the ground. The pollution is
visible, unpleasant, and downright unhealthy, especially for
children, the elderly, and those with respiratory sensitivities.
A different kind of problem arises when one households
wood smoke is so dense that the neighbors are driven
An EPA certified insert can convert an inefficient fireplace
into a clean burning, energy efficient source of heat.
indoors, and even there the smell permeates clothes, rugs,

and drapes. Both problems are serious, and together they
give wood burning its bad name.
Clearly, the unreserved promotion of wood heating in all
locations and circumstances is not environmentally
acceptable. Even venturing to say something mildly positive
about home heating with wood opens the door for criticism
in some circles.
Acknowledging that heating with wood is not a good
option for everyone, everywhere, how do you go about
judging suitability in your particular case? A concise set of
criteria to guide decision-making, or even to guide a
discussion of the issue is a good place to start.
Three Myths & Four Questions

It might be useful to clear up three common myths:
Wood heating involves simple equipment at the level of
folk technology.
Installation of wood heating systems entails only the
application of common sense.
The skills needed for successful heating with wood are
intuitive.
In truth, effective wood heating is neither simple, just
common sense, nor intuitive. Effective wood heating
technologies are not simple. In fact, it is simple wood
burning equipment that makes too much smoke and is
www.homepower.com
73
wood heat
In Medford, Oregon, an inversion layer frequently traps auto, industry, and wood
burning emissions, creating air quality problems. This can be mitigated somewhat by
practicing environmentally responsible wood burning.
terribly inefficient. Common sense in the absence of proven

technical guidelines for woodstove installation can cause
house fires. And if anything, bad wood burning habits seem
to come naturally. Ive been building and maintaining wood
fires every winter for almost thirty years, and Im still
learning. Maybe its intuitive for some people, but not for
anyone I know.
To make a sound decision about whether to burn wood
or not, youll need to answer these four questions:
whether wood heating would be

suitable where you live, consider this:
if all your neighbors also decided that
wood heating was a good idea, would
it make your area a less pleasant or
healthy place to live? If so, look for
other options.
Also worth considering is the
fuel supply. Wood heating is best
done in a local context, so the fuel
supply, in the form of standing trees,
should be reasonably close to where
you live. If your area is not well
forested, other heating options
would be better.
So, if you dont live in town, and
your region doesnt have winter air
quality problems, but is forested,
then heywood heating might be for
you.
Selecting & Installing the Right Equipment
Should you even consider burning wood where you

live?
What kind of device should you burn the wood in, and
how should the installation be arranged?
What is an appropriate source of firewood, and how can
you get some?
How should you operate the wood heating system?
Selecting wood heating equipment is when many costly

mistakes get made, and is the source of one of the most
common pitfalls. Strictly decorative or recreational wood
burning is not environmentally appropriate. Conventional
fireplaces without heat recovery are inherently wasteful and
polluting. The goal is efficient, low pollution wood heating,
and you cant do that with a conventional fireplace.
A word about houseswe shouldnt allow our houses to
waste energy, because virtually all energy use produces
environmental impacts. It is relatively easy these days,
using standard building materials, to create a snug, efficient
house, the very kind that is best suited to wood heating.
The most efficient form of wood heating is space heating
with a woodstove, as distinct from central heating with a
furnace. Ideally, the heater is located in the most lived-in
part of the house, typically the central area consisting of the
Each of these is a big topic, justifying its own article, so

in the interest of brevity, this article will just skim the high
points.
A selection of freestanding, EPA certified woodstoves at

Orleys Stoves & Spas in Medford, Oregon.
Should You Consider Wood Heating?

If you live downtown in a multi-story building, forget
about wood heating. Even if it were physically possible, it
wouldnt be responsible. Even in detached houses, urban
wood heating can be problematic, unless you opt for a pellet
stove, which is capable of very low emissions. Wood pellets
are produced from sawmill waste, which is dried, ground,
and compressed. Packaged in 50 pound (23 kg) bags, they
are easier to transport, manage, and store than firewood in
urban environments.
In general, wood heating works best at the urban fringe
and beyond, but even using that criteria, there are limits. For
example, if your nearby urban area has frequent air quality
problems in winter, you might want to consider other
options that have less local impact. If youre unsure about
74
wood heat
kitchen, living, and dining rooms. This arrangement makes
the space where you eat, relax, and entertain the warmest in
the house, while utility areas and bedrooms stay cooler. A
moderately sized, energy efficient house can be heated
comfortably with a single, well-located woodstove.
A chimney is an important part of heater operationit is
not simply an exhaust pipe. Think of it as the engine that
drives the wood heating system. Straight chimney systems
provide the most reliable, maintenance-free performance. So
locate the chimney directly above the stove location so the
flue pipe and chimney run straight up from the stove flue
collar. This arrangement produces a quickly building, strong
draft, with no back drafts and much less chance of smoke
rollout when the door is opened for loading. Plus,
maintenance is reducedin thirteen years of use, my
chimney has never had a brush through it, although I check
for creosote build-up often. Straight-up chimney systems
give the kind of performance we all want.
Getting the right heater is important, and fortunately, the
general criteria are fairly simple. Look for anything that is
certified for low emissions by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). A good selection of EPA certified
woodstoves, fireplace inserts, and factory-built fireplaces is
available. Not only will an EPA certified heater emit about
ninety percent less smoke, it will deliver up to one-third
higher efficiency than the old parlor or airtight stove. Youll
get more heat from less wood and make less pollution in the
bargain.
If you are a fan of masonry construction, you could
consider a masonry heater, which cannot be EPA certified
because of their design features, but which have been shown
to burn clean and provide efficient heating. A masonry
heater is a specialized design in which a fire is burned
rapidly and the heat is absorbed by tons of masonry mass
for gentle release over the next 12 to 24 hours.
Youll need help selecting the right heater. For stoves,
inserts, and fireplaces, visit as many specialty hearth
retailers as you can, and hear what the sales people have to
say. If you are able to visit at least three, their relative
competence will probably be revealed. I suggest you pick
the dealer you trust first, before making the final product
decision. A good dealer can offer you workable options.
Then it is up to you to select what you think works best for
you. Because the stove, insert, or fireplace will become an
ever-present member of the family, youd better like the look
of it.
Minor differences in smoke emission ratings or in
published efficiency figures dont really mean much,
considering that your fuel and operating practices will have
such a large effect on performance. Find a good dealer, listen
to his or her advice, and pick what you like, as long as it is
EPA certified. Chances are good that youll be satisfied.
If a masonry heater is more to your liking and within
your budget, contact a member of the Masonry Heater
Association of North America. In my experience, heater
builders are talented, committed individuals who could
make a lot more money in some other line of work if they
didnt insist on doing what they love.
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tag like this one

identifies a clean burning heater. The efficiency rating is
an average and is not meaningful.
Identifying Appropriate Firewood

Wood is considered to be a renewable fuel and almost
carbon dioxide neutral because trees absorb CO2 when they
grow. When trees mature and fall in the forest and
decompose there, the same amount of CO2 is emitted as
would be released if they were burned for heat. In heating
our houses with wood, we are simply tapping into the
natural carbon cycle in which CO2 flows from the
atmosphere to the forest and back.
When wood fuel is used to displace the use of a fossil
fuel, the reduction in net CO2 emissions occurs quickly
because of the increase in the rate of growth (and therefore
the rate of CO2 absorption) where trees are removed from
the forest. Advanced wood heating technology enhances the
effect since it allows you to burn less wood and at the same
time conserve energy produced from fossil fuels.
Appropriate firewood is produced using sustainable
forest management practices. The integrity of the forest,
including the trees, the soil, and the site, is maintained and
species diversity, both plant and animal, is maintained or
enhanced. While this may seem like a tall order or a utopian
vision, the fact is that sustainable forestry management has
been practiced for decades in thousands of private woodlots
across North America. Farmers woodlots that look the same
today as they did fifty years ago are really the proof of good
forest management practices.
www.homepower.com
75
wood heat
The other major source of firewood
is logging operations that produce
lumber, pulp, or veneer logs. In these
operations, there is always waste
produced, such as trees that are rotten
in the center or are damaged by road
and trail building, and the tops and
branches for which there may be no
commercial market other than
firewood. While these logging
operations do not necessarily use
sustainable methods, many do, and
the damage would be done whether or
not some of the waste wood is diverted
as firewood.
The
key
to
understanding
sustainable forestry is to view the
forest not as a museum containing
A healthy forest yields tons of biomass each year, some of which can be beneficially
exhibits, but as a living community,
diverted for home heating. This forest in Oregons Cascade mountains has been
which like all communities, is
sustainably logged by the same ranching family for more than 100 years.
constantly evolving. Climate, soil
quality, and site characteristics vary
In practical terms, sustainable forest management can be
widely, but many of the forested areas of North America are
described as uneven age selective harvesting. It means
highly productive, meaning that a lot of firewood can be
removing damaged or diseased trees and thinning
removed each year from each acre, while the quality of the
concentrated stands of single species, while leaving seed
stand and wildlife habitat are enhanced.
trees of all present species and some standing dead trees to
Those of us who heat homes with wood can do our part
provide wildlife habitat. Woodlots in farm country generally
for sustainability by pressuring our firewood suppliers to
conform to this prescription. If you can get your firewood
prove that the wood they sell comes from a sustainable
from a farmer, there is a good chance that it comes from a
source. If many of their customers asked questions about
sustainable source.
sustainable forestry, firewood dealers would soon pressure
their suppliers, and the public will would be expressed
One mans slash.... Gathering firewood from a logging slash
within the firewood market.
pile, which usually gets burned anyway, will put that wood to
Firewood should be cut, split, and stacked in an open
use while helping to clean up an unsightly mess.
area in early spring to be ready to burn in the fall. Very hard
woods like oak may take longer, and drying in damp
climates can also take longer than just the summer months.
Here is one final suggestion about sustainable firewood.
Ugly woodpiles that include wood from less desirable
species tend to be more sustainable than perfect piles of
maple or oak with regular pieces in the classic wedge shape.
This is because straight lengths of these high-value, slow
growing species should be used for furniture, not wood
heating.
Ugly woodpiles are created by using everything, right
down to 2 inch (5 cm) diameter sticks, and including all
the bent and twisted sections of the tops. Although I live
in sugar maple country, my firewood is mostly white
birch and poplar because I have a lot of them on my
property, and because they mature in about 35 years and
then fall over. I just catch them for firewood before they
fall.
Regarding fuel other than firewood, dont burn it.
Burning waste paper, or even worse, general household
trash, produces elevated emissions of dioxin and other nasty
toxic gases. Burning saltwater driftwood has the same
result. Burn clean, dry, uncoated, untreated wood and just
enough newspaper to light the fires.
76
wood heat
Operating a Wood Heating System
What day-to-day practices produce less smoke and
higher efficiency? There is no simple formula for building
and maintaining fires that deliver maximum heating
efficiency and minimize smoke, except to say that wood
should be actively flaming until it is reduced to charcoal.
(See www.woodheat.org to learn about the top-down fire
starting technique and more wood burning tips for
maximum efficiency and minimal smoke.)
The design differences among woodstove models and
chimney configurations, and differences in firewood and
heat demand all have their effects on wood burning
practice. That is to say, we users must adapt to conditions
and learn by experience the best way to operate our wood
heat systems to achieve the twin goals of high efficiency and
low emissions. Given that limitation, however, here are
some general guidelines that might be useful.
EPA certified woodstoves differ greatly from those built
up until the late 1980s. These advanced stoves achieve
higher combustion efficiency and fewer emissions by
burning the smoke before it leaves the firebox. Catalytic
models have a ceramic honeycomb coated with a catalyst
inside the stove that lowers the ignition temperature of
combustible gases.
Noncatalytic stoves use firebox insulation, large baffles,
and super-heated combustion air distributed in the firebox
to burn the smoke effectively. The operating instructions
supplied with the heater should be followed, especially the
procedures for operating catalytic stoves, which usually
give precise instructions for ensuring that the catalyst lights
off properly.
Tips for Clean

Wood Burning
Understanding the key phases in the combustion
process will assist you in achieving a cleaner and
more efficient fire. There are three stages of
burning.
Evaporation
The first stage of combustion is evaporation,
when energy is expended to remove moisture
from the wood. Using energy to drive off excess
water in firewood robs the stove of energy
needed for an efficient and clean burn. Also, much
of the energy wasted in evaporating water is
energy that could have heated your home.
Emissions
As heat inside the stove intensifies, waste gases
are released from the wood. Unburned gases in
smoke are emitted into the air as pollution or
condensed in the chimney, causing creosote
build-up. Waste gases from wood need oxygen in
order to burn. This is why starving a fire for air, or
banking down a fire is the worst way to burn.
Always give a fire a generous supply of
combustion air.
Charcoal
Beauty is in the eye of the beholdera sustainable woodpile
does not contain uniform pieces of only the best wood.
When most of the tar and gasses have burned,

the remaining substance is charcoal, which burns
with a steady red glow and little or no flame. A
good-sized coal bed can give hours of efficient,
smoke-free heating, so dont rush to add wood
unless the space has started to cool off. Then rake
the remaining charcoal to the front of the firebox
where it can quickly ignite the new load.
Only Burn Seasoned Wood

Unseasoned wood is hard to ignite and very
inefficient. When logs are cut, 50 percent of their
weight is water. If wet when burned, a high
amount of energy is wasted to drive off excess
moisture, resulting in very poor combustion,
increased pollution, and creosote build-up.
The best fuel is dry, seasoned wood. Seasoned
wood has moisture content of about 20 percent
or less. It tends to be dark in color, cracked on the
ends, lighter in weight, and has bark that is more
easily broken or peeled.
Source: Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality
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77
wood heat
Remove ashes frequently. Dont let them build up in the
firebox or ash pan. In the firebox, they interfere with proper
loading and make dealing with the coal bed more difficult.
In stoves with ash pans, the forgetful owner who doesnt
empty ashes frequently enough ends up with a dusty mess
to clean up as ashes end up everywhere under and inside
the stove body. In cold weather, I remove a small amount of
ash from my firebox every morning before loading.
Much more could be said about the finer points of
modern woodstove operation. But with these basic ideas
and a good attitude as a starting point, you can develop
your own special practices that suit your system, firewood,
and heat demand. And thats part of the pleasure of heating
with wood.
A Place for Wood in the Future
Gathered fallen deadwood ready to be bucked.

Small diameter wood burns fast and clean.
Wood burns best in cycles. A cycle begins with the

placement of several pieces of wood on a coal bed and ends
when that wood has burned to a similar-sized coal bed.
Adding one or two pieces per hour in the attempt to
maintain constant heat output is not a good strategy. In fact,
adding only one or two pieces is not a good idea at any time.
When loading, always add at least three pieces to create a
triangular formation where the glowing surfaces of one
burning piece radiate on the other pieces, creating the site
where a fire ignites and is sustained.
To burn in cycles, wait to reload until you notice that the
room or space is beginning to cool off, then add a load of at
least three pieces. Match the size of the load to heat demand.
That is, in the relatively mild weather of spring and fall, use
several smaller pieces of wood, rather than fewer of the
large pieces you would use in colder weather.
A cycle should last between four and eight hours,
depending on a variety of circumstances. For example, in
spring and fall, I like to use the flash fire technique, which
consists of three to six small pieces of firewood placed in a
crisscross arrangement and burned fairly fast. The result is
about four hours of heating, with no smoldering and no
overheating of the space. In colder weather, use larger pieces
placed compactly in the firebox to slow down the rate at
which they ignite and burn.
Never let a fire smolder. In advanced, EPA certified
stoves, the wood should be flaming brightly when you go to
bed at night, and you should still have plenty of coals in the
morning with which to rekindle the next fire. Gone are the
days of banking fires with huge unsplit blocks and
choking off the air supply before bed, a procedure that
wasted much of the woods potential energy and coated the
chimney with flammable creosote. The new stoves call for
new operating procedures.
78
Some environmentalists take a dim view of wood

energy, seeing it as crude and backward and just plain
polluting. But in a post-fossil-fuel future, in which
renewables dominate as they must, any serious analysis
cannot overlook the limitations of sun and wind as
producers of the bulk heat needed to warm houses in
moderate to cold climates.
Instead of ignoring wood and hoping it will go away
along with coal-burning power plants and toxic pesticides,
we should confront the issue head-on by forcing wood
energy into the twenty-first century. We should promote
advanced combustion technologies and the social
responsibility of using them appropriately. Those of us who
choose to heat with wood need to pledge our commitment
never to make visible smokean outcome, which with care,
is achievable now.
Access
John Gulland, Killaloe, Ontario, Canada Wood heat
consultant and executive director of the Wood Heat
Organization, Inc.
Wood Heat Organization, Inc. www.woodheat.org
HearthNet www.hearth.com
Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, 1601 North Kent
Street, Suite 1001, Arlington, VA 22209 703-522-0086
Fax: 703-522-0548 hpbamail@hpba.org www.hpba.org
The Masonry Heater Association of North America,
Beverly J. Marois, Administrator, 1252 Stock Farm Rd.,
Randolph, Vermont 05060 802-728-5896 Fax: 802-7286004 bmarois@sovernet.com www.mha-net.org
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
www.deq.state.or.us/aq/woodstoves/woodstoves101.htm
Outdoor Wood Furnace

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81
Sinergex
PureSine 600
Inverter
Joe Schwartz
2004 Joe Schwartz
Application:
For nine months, I ran my

home office and entertainment gear with a Sinergex
PureSine 600, 12 VDC nominal input inverter. Loads
included two laptops, a satellite Internet system, compact
fluorescent (CF) lighting, computer speakers, and a
subwoofer for that big bass sound.
System: The PS600 is part of the cabin system

that powers a camp trailer up on my property, located at
4,600 feet (1,400 m) in the mountains east of Ashland,
Oregon. Major system components include 700 AH of
Trojan L-16 batteries configured for 12 VDC; an Outback
MX60, 60 amp PV controller; 700 W of Sharp NT-R5E1U,
175 W PVs; and a Cruising Equipment E-Meter amp-hour
meter.
Im about a year and a half into homesteading a new

piece of land. In the fall of 2002, I moved to the property full
time and needed to get a bigger PV system together to
power my home office. I had an old, 1,500 watt, modified
square wave inverter to run the occasional power tool. My
circular saw didnt like it much, and groaned to life every
time I used it. I groaned too, but hey, the situation was only
temporary.
I sure wasnt going to subject the sensitive (and
expensive) electronics I use to work at home to the chunky
waveform of the modified square wave inverter. So I went
looking for a small sine wave inverter. Since the Taiwanesemade Sinergex PureSine series was new to the U.S. market,
I decided to run one and collect some performance data.
The PS600 is available in six different versions12, 24,
or 48 VDC input with 100 to 120 VAC output, and 12, 24, or
48 VDC input with 220 to 240 VAC output. The AC
frequency of the inverter is user selectable for either 50 or 60
Hz, making the inverter a candidate for countries where 50
Hz, 115 VAC or 50 Hz, 230 VAC appliances are the standard.
Sinergex also makes 150, 300, 1,000, and 1,500 watt models
in the PureSine series.
Installation & Operation
The Sinergex PS600 is an

inexpensive, UL-listed, sine wave
inverter capable of powering
sensitive electronic loads like
computers and audio gear.
82
After the inverter was mounted on the wall, and the

fused battery leads were connected, the installation
was pretty much done. The AC output of the
inverter is provided via a single-gang
receptacle with two outlets. I fitted a male cord
cap on a 4 foot (1.2 m) length of #12 (3 mm2)
SO cable that ran to the 15 amp breaker
panel in the camp trailer. From there, the
electricity is distributed throughout the
trailer to various light fixtures and
receptacles.
Once the inverter was up and running, I
grabbed my Fluke 87 digital multimeter to check the peak
and rms AC voltages. I was surprised to see the rms voltage
hovering around 110 VAC. Im a power quality nerd, and
117 VAC is the magic number when it comes to 120 VAC
nominal inverter output. I took a look at the inverter specs
again and noticed that the inverters AC output can be set

for 100, 110, or 120 VAC. But there was no mention in the
user manual of how to configure the inverter for different
output voltages.
I disconnected the DC input to the inverter, opened up
the case, and found a pair of unmarked dip switches. I went
out on a limb a bit and reconfigured the dip switches until I
found the 120 VAC output setting. Obviously, this info
needs to be added to the manual. Next I connected a Fluke
43B AC Power Quality Analyzer to the inverters output,
and the THD was at 0.8 percent with a couple hundred
watts of AC loads running. That indicates a high quality AC
output waveform, so I was in business.
Inverter status is monitored by three LEDs that display
input voltage level, load level, and faults. The inverter fault
conditions displayed include overvoltage, undervoltage,
overtemperature and overload. An on/off switch is also
included.
Inverter test data was collected while adding

incremental AC resistive loads to the inverter.
Battery voltage, battery current (via a 100 mV/100 A
shunt), and peak and RMS AC voltage were
measured using three Fluke 87 digital multimeters.
AC amperage was measured with a Brand
Electronics model 20-1850 power meter and a
Fluke 43B AC Power Quality Analyzer with a 20 amp
current clamp. The Fluke 43B was also used to
measure total harmonic distortion and power
factor. The battery temperature during testing was
72.4F (22.4C.)
Overvoltage
The Outback MX60 PV charge controller Im running is

equipped with battery temperature compensation. As the
battery temperature decreases, the controller increases the
regulation voltage to ensure a full state of charge. The
inverter had been on line for a couple of weeks and the
weather began to get colder with the onset of winter. I came
mind, the AC power quality of the PS600 beats the grid even
home one night, turned on a light switch, and was still
on its good days. This means the electricity produced by the
standing in the dark. The LED status indicators on the
inverter is of high enough quality to run any electronics that
inverter were displaying an overvoltage condition. The high
you have, providing the combined load falls within the
voltage cutout for the inverter is factory set at 15.3 VDC. I
inverters output rating. The cost of the PS600 inverter is on
regulate flooded lead-acid batteries at 14.8 VDC. With the
the low end when compared to other small, sine wave
temperature compensation kicking in, the inverter was
inverters.
shutting down due to overvoltage.
The only solution was to disable
the MX60s temperature compenSinergex PS600 Inverter Test
sation, which was less than ideal, since
AC Out
DC In
the batteries would no longer be
Load Volts
Volts
attaining a full state of charge in cold
Watts (Peak) (rms) Amps THD*
Watts Volts Amps
Efficiency
weather. Based on this experience, I
Idle
170.0
121.3
NA
1.0%
11.5 12.74
0.9
NA
wouldnt recommend using the PS600
inverter in systems with flooded leadacid batteries in cold climates. Since
sealed batteries have lower voltage
regulation requirements (typically 13.8
to 14.4 VDC), overvoltage shutdown
shouldnt be an issue. Upping the high
voltage cutout to 16 VDC would be a
great improvement to this inverter.
Power Quality
I occasionally check the power
quality of the utility grid and often see
total harmonic distortion values
between 2 and 3 percent. With that in
15.7
170.0
121.1
0.13
1.0%
28.0
12.71
2.2
56.3%
21.8
169.6
120.9
0.18
1.0%
34.3
12.70
2.7
63.5%
43.4
168.8
120.5
0.36
1.0%
57.0
12.67
4.5
76.1%
67.3
168.0
120.2
0.56
0.9%
80.9
12.64
6.4
83.2%
90.0
167.6
120.0
0.75
0.8%
103.4
12.61
8.2
87.0%
174.0
166.8
119.2
1.46
0.8%
194.2
12.53
15.5
89.6%
258.7
166.8
119.2
2.17
0.8%
294.6
12.43
23.7
87.8%
343.9
166.8
119.0
2.89
0.8%
396.7
12.32
32.2
86.7%
496.9
164.4
118.3
4.20
0.9%
594.9
12.14
49.0
83.5%
585.6
168.4
118.3
4.95
1.4%
718.8
12.02
59.8
81.5%
664.5
162.8
117.4
5.66
2.7%
848.7
11.92
71.2
78.3%
*Total harmonic distortion
www.homepower.com
83
REview
Power: 600 W continuous at 40C (104F)

Surge Power: 800 W
Sine Wave Quality: Less than 3 percent
THD typical
Efficiency: 87 percent at full load

Idle Draw: Less than 15 W
Input Voltage: 10 to 15.3 VDC
Dimensions: 11.6 by 7.1 by 2.8 inches
(29 x 18 x 7 cm)
Weight: 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg)

Note: All specifications supplied by manufacturer.
The PureSine 600s waveform displayed on a Fluke 43B.
Because Im at the start of my homesteading project, and

have limited space thats protected from the elements (were
talking 80 square feet; 7.4 m2), I mounted the PS600 inverter
inside my camp trailer. One thing I really appreciated about
the inverter was its near silent operation. Even with the fan
running, the noise level was tolerable.
Shortcomings
While the AC power quality of the PS600 inverter is
great, some of its design characteristics fall short of my
dream inverter. The battery input terminals on the inverter
are well isolated from each other, but they are not conduit
ready. This makes a code compliant installation difficult,
since youd have to add a custom junction box to the DC end
of the inverter.
The inverters DC terminal blocks use Allen-type,
compression set screws that require a small ring lug. The
inverter package included two of the appropriate sized lugs,
but wire size was limited to #6 (13 mm2) CU wire. This was fine
in my case, since the battery to inverter wire length was only 6
High Points:
PS600 Efficiency
100%
80%
Efficiency
feet (1.8 m). But longer and larger inverter/battery wiring will
require a combiner block or lugs to transition down to #6 wire
at the inverter. A lug is provided for the equipment ground
conductor and accepts up to #8 (8 mm2) wire.
In the features section of the inverters manual, high
surge in motor start capacity is listed. This is definitely
stretching things a bit. The maximum output rating for the
inverter is 680 watts for three minutes. The surge rating for
the inverter is only 800 watts. This inverter isnt a good
candidate for systems that will power small power tools or
motors that surge above 800 watts. However, many small
RE systems have loads similar to minecomputers,
lighting, and entertainment gear. The high power quality of
the PS600 makes it an appropriate choice for systems with
similar loads.
Sine wave output

Inexpensive
Super quiet
Low Points:
60%
40%
20%
Not conduit ready

Low surge capacity
15.3 VDC overvoltage shutdown
List Price: US$600

0%
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Warranty: 12 months from date of purchase
AC Load (Watts)
84
REview
Inverter Swap
A few months ago, I transitioned into serious
construction mode, and needed a larger sine wave inverter
to run power tools, and power my computers and other
electronic gear. I swapped the two, 12 VDC inverters in my
cabin system for a single, 2,000 watt sine wave inverter that
will run my office gear and my circular saw. Ill be
reinstalling the Sinergex PS600 at HPs production office, so
I can run my laptop off-grid when I work downtown.
Access
Joe Schwartz, Home Power, PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520
541-944-0780 joe.schwartz@homepower.com
Butler Sun
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Fax: 801-763-1221 info@sinergex.com
www.sinergex.com
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Solar1: Renewable Energy Basics

In response to countless requests, weve compiled 15 years worth of Home Powers
Basics articles onto a single CD-ROM. Organized into 15 topical categories, theres no
better resource for the novice RE enthusiast who doesnt know where to start. Includes
audio workshops and How to video files. See www.homepower.com for a complete table
of contents.
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87
Solar Hot Air

Systems, Part II
Nuts & Bolts of the Installation

Chuck Marken
2004 Chuck Marken
Matt McKivigan and Kris Kadera of Sun Friendly Concepts, Inc. with a simple solar hot air system that you can install.
Solar air heating systems are easy to install compared to

other solar heating systems. Part 1 in HP98 looked at air
collector types, construction, and overall system design.
That article also defined the function and operation of each
major component, including blowers, controls, and
backdraft dampers. By reviewing that article, you will have
a better understanding of where we start in this article. Here
well get out the tools and go through the nuts and bolts of
an installation.
Follow a few simple rules to the letter, add some quality
workmanship, and youll have a system that provides free
heat for the coming decades. A seasoned crew of two can
install a solar hot air system in a few hours, though
sometimes it takes a long day. If this is your first time, plan
on a weekend, even with help.
The reputation of solar air heating has suffered a great
deal from poor installations. I know of two large
manufacturers in the 1980s that printed unworkable system
designs right on the front page of their product literature.
88
Its no wonder so many of these systems failed to perform

up to expectations. Follow along and well go through the
right way to install a solar air collector system on your
home, office, garage, or shop.
The basics of placement and mounting of solar liquid
collectors was the subject of an article in HP94. That articles
detailed instructions on roof or ground mounting collectors
and sealing roof penetrations applies to air collectors as
well. The only thing different is that air collectors have
larger roof penetrations to accommodate the ducts. Unless
you are comfortable with sealing roof penetrations or plan
to place the collectors elsewhere, I strongly suggest you
review that article.
The Roof
The most popular place to put solar hot air collectors is
on the roof. Less shade will affect them, and the roof allows
you to easily do a clean, efficient installation. Lets start on
the roof and work our way down.
hot air
Galvanized duct is used as weatherproofing outside the
outer covering of the insulated flex duct, and overlaps the
roof jack. Any adjustable elbows for the weatherproofing
need to be placed over the insulated flex before it is attached
to the collector. Straight pieces of duct snap together to
connect the elbows to the roof jack, and all of the joints
should be sealed with silicone sealant.
The snap disc sensor (a simple, thermostatic fan switch,
described in the previous article) also needs to be fastened
to the collector absorber plate via the duct port, before the
ducting is installed. This wire will not be hot (energized) yet,
so there will not be any danger of electrical shock until it is
connected to a live circuit. The temperature rating of the
wires into the collector should be above 300F (149C). You
can use toaster wire (at AAA Solar, we use 200C rated #14)
or other suitable high temperature insulated wire inside the
collector.
Kris cuts a 9 inch hole, for the 8 inch duct,
in exactly the right spot.
The collector is usually mounted first. The holes in the

roof are normally cut within about 2 feet (0.6 m) of the back
of the collector. On composition shingle roofs, a roof jack
will make the transition between the roof and the duct.
Roof penetrations for the air handling ducts in an air
collector system will be 7 or 9 inches (23 cm) in diameter, to
accommodate 6 and 8 inch (15 and 20 cm) insulated flex
duct. An inch (2.5 cm) of insulation makes the ducts 8 or 10
inches (20 or 25 cm) in diameter respectively, and the roof
jack holes will be 1 inch smaller. This makes the duct fit
tightly through the roof. We use 7 or 9 inch (18 or 23 cm) roof
jacks and plastic roof cement as the sealant.
Insulated flex duct is constructed of a high temperature
(240F; 116C) flexible duct, encased in a spiral of wire for
structural integrity and 1 inch of insulation that is covered
with a vinyl or foil exterior. Flex duct can be found at
plumbing and HVAC specialty stores and some home
centers.
Roof penetrations on this composite shingle roof get
plenty of plastic roof cement, both at the mounting racks feet
and the galvanized roof jack.
Matt attaches the snap disk in the hot air outlet before
connecting the duct. The wires will run between
the flexible duct and the rigid duct.
The wire is then run through EMT conduit or just inside

the galvanized steel weatherproofing. The wire (2conductor Romex with ground) will run into the attic and be
connected latermake sure to leave plenty of wire that can
be cut to length when the time comes. If you are not familiar
with home electrical wiring, this job is best left to a qualified
electrician. All roof penetrations and mounts should be
sealed with plastic roof cement.
The Attic
The attic is a hot placeget in and out as quickly as
possible! A two or three person crew will normally
coordinate things and get the attic work completed in the
morning, avoiding the heat of the day.
The attic is where everything ties together. Work to be
accomplished here includes hanging the blower and
www.homepower.com
89
hot air
Tools
Required:
3/8 inch drill/driver and bits (at least one 1 inch

spade bit)
1/4
Reciprocating or keyhole saw
Measuring tape
Pliers
Sheet metal shears
Screwdrivers
Socket set for lag bolts and mounts
Electricians tools (or hire an electrician)
Drop cloth
Ladder for roof and 6 foot step ladder for

inside
Flashlight
Hammer
inch hex socket driver bit
Nice to have:
Stud finder
Angle gauge
Compass
1/2
Circular saw
Torpedo level
Trowel for plastic roof cement
inch driver drill
backdraft damper, passing the duct up to the roof, cutting

the cold air return, installing the hot air supply boot,
hooking up the duct, and connecting the wiring. Plumbers
tape (flexible metal strapping with pre-punched holes) is
used to mount the blower assembly and any ducting that
needs to be secured.
returns were incorrectly installed in the ceiling because it

was easy and convenient. It is not just inefficientit wont
work, ever.
Building codes allow cold air returns in wall cavities
behind the wallboard. In most homes, this makes an ideal
location for a cold air return duct. You dont even need to
install duct in the hollow wall space as long as the air
temperature is less than 120F (49C). You can use the
wallboard and framing studs in an interior wall (without
insulation) as the duct.
By careful observation and measurement, you can locate
a suitable entry point into the attic. Once you are sure of the
location, the double top plate above the wall needs to be cut
with a reciprocating or keyhole saw. Always take special
care to avoid cutting through electrical wires or structural
members. Its best to drill a couple of 1 inch (2.5 cm) holes in
the plates to make the sawing easier. Care must be takenit
is easy to damage a finished wall that is typically only a 1/2
inch (13 mm) piece of gypsum wallboard away. A cold air
return duct for a single collector should be at least 30 square
inches (194 cm2), or a space of at least 10 inches (25 cm)
wide. The standard interior wall cavity (14.5 inches or 50
square inches; 37 cm or 323 cm2) is plenty of space.
Once a cold air return opening is cut in the attic and a 6
by 10 inch (15 x 25 cm) grille opening is cut in the wallboard
at floor level below, a duct transition needs to be made.
Boots are what the HVAC industry calls these transitions
they are rectangular on one side and round on the other. A 4
by 12 rectangular to 6 inch round (10 x 30 to 15 cm) boot will
screw down nicely over the top plate opening. Use silicone
sealant to ensure that no air is lost in the attic. Replace any
insulation that was pushed out of the way to accomplish the
work. The cold air return duct is ready to be run to the
collector.
Dont have a suitable hollow wall space? Other options
include using closets, with or without duct, or ducting
down a garage or outside wall. You can also duct down an
inside wall and build what is called a chase space to
conceal the ducting. You dont have to use round duct for
Cold Air Return

Of all these jobs, finding and cutting a good cold air
return is most critical. Cold air will not travel upwards. If a
cold air grille is placed 4 feet (1.2 m) above the floor, all the
cold air below the grille will tend to stay where it is. The
result will be an uncomfortably cold area right where people
sit and recline.
This is where so many solar air collector systems were
short-changed; many cold air grilles were installed in the
ceiling. Some unknowing manufacturers even recommended it and went so far as to depict it in their drawings
and literature. The solar air heating system will only heat to
a level of the cold air return grille. This means that if you
want the heat down at floor level, that is where you must
draw the cold air going to the collector. Many cold air
90
Cold air return

grilles should be
mounted close to
the floor, and
strategically
away from the
hot air register.
hot air
thisthe HVAC industry also has a ready-made 31/4 by 10
inch (8.3 x 25 cm) duct that will serve in many instances. No
matter what, get the cold air from the floor level of the
rooms you wish to heat if you want the system to work.
The Blower & Hot Air Supply

The hot air supply is normally a much easier task than
the cold air. A 6 by 10 inch (15 x 25 cm) hole is cut in the
ceiling sheetrock with a keyhole saw at a convenient
locationhallways, living rooms, dens, and dining rooms
are good places. A 6 by 10 to 6 inch round (15 x 25 to 15 cm)
boot is placed over the drywall in the attic, and the hot air
register is screwed into the boot, through the wallboard
from below. Again, it is good to apply a small bead of
silicone caulk on the flange of the boot to help secure it to
the wallboard. Thats it for the hot air except to connect the
duct.
The blower/backdraft damper assembly is easier to deal
with if it is put together first and carried into the attic as a
unit. The backdraft damper should be in a square to round
transition. Blower outlets are usually square or rectangular
and you will attach the unit to 6 inch (15 cm) round duct.
The square part of the damper housing is bent over the
blower outlet and screwed and duct taped to ensure no air
or heat loss.
Working in tight quartersMatt hangs the blower,

runs the duct, and then finally wires the system.
Attaching all the components, like boots to wood, duct

to metal, and other jobs is easiest if you use self-tapping
screws with a 1/4 inch (6 mm) hex driver in a cordless
electric drill. These #8 screws come in lengths from 1/2 to 2
inches (1350 mm). An air collector installation can be
accomplished with 1/2 and 1 inch (13 and 25 mm) screws.
Use 1 inch (2.5 cm) screws for the truss attachment of the
blower and 1/2 inch (13 mm) screws to attach the plumbers
tape to the blower. Be careful not to run any screws into the
blower where they might interfere with the operation of the
squirrel cage fan. Once the collector, roof jacks, boots, and
blower are mounted, its time to connect the dots.
The Ducting
The blower (left) and backdraft damper (right) should be

assembled before you crawl into the attic.
A 6 inch starting collar is screwed to the blower inlet on

the side to allow flex duct to be easily connected. The hinge
of the spring-loaded backdraft damper should be vertical
when the blower is positioned so the inlet is on the side of
the blower. The backdraft damper should open like two
doors hinged in the middle when in this positionthis is
the way the blower will be mounted.
The blower assembly is hung in the attic with plumbers
tape. Attaching a blower to rafters or trusses with fixed
mounts can cause very unpleasant noisesdo so at your
own peril. Plumbers tape installation will dampen any
harmonics from the blower to the wood. The blower
assembly should be mounted at three points, at a minimum.
The cold air return of the system is connected to the

collector inlet (usually the bottom of the collector, but in
some designs it could be on the side). It runs in one piece
from the cold air boot to the collector. Only one more piece
of duct is needed to connect the collector output (normally
the top opening) to the blower inlet (the inlet should be on
the side of the blower if mounted correctly).
In general, the hot air duct should be as short as possible;
the cold can be longer without harming efficiency as much.
The cold air duct may be up to 50 feet (15 m) long if
necessary, but shorter is better. If possible, make the duct
from the blower to the hot air register the shortest run.
The nature of air makes pulling it (vacuum) easier than
pushing it. The cold air duct and the hot air up to the blower
are under negative pressure caused by the blower. Negative
pressure tames the air into moving much more in the
direction you want it to go. The only positive pressure part
of the system is after the blower, hence the shortest run of
duct for the best efficiency. Too little duct in this run will
give excessive blower noise in the home3 to 5 feet (0.9
1.5 m) is ideal, with a maximum of about 10 feet (3 m).
Insulated flex duct can be cut with a razor knife and wire
cutters. It typically comes in 25 foot (7.6 m) lengths. After
www.homepower.com
91
hot air
System Layout Example
Heat Register:
In living room,
on ceiling
Dining
Kitchen
Heat Supply Duct:

In attic, 10 to 15
feet long
Collector:
On roof
Blower &
Damper:
In heat
supply duct,
not shown
Bedroom
Bathroom
Cold Return Duct:
In attic, less than 50
feet long
Bedroom
Bedroom
Cold Grille:
In hall,
near floor
Note: Ideal systems have one hot air supply and one cold air return.
Multiple ducts can create unpredictable air flow reducing efficiency.
cutting it to a size that will make a tight duct run, three

screws securing the spring wire will attach it to the
component. Duct taping the connection ensures that the
wire will not come loose, and seals the duct.
Once the attic is done, there should be two ducts and one
piece of Romex wire going to the roof. The blower will be
mounted and ducts going to the hot and cold air boots installed.
Inside Layout
The inside work for the ducting isnt much. Cut the
wallboard for the cold air grille and hot air register, mount
them plumb and level, and thats about it. A register is just
a fancy grille that has moveable vanes and can close all the
way if you wish. Most of the inside work has to do with
laying out the system and tying into an electrical circuit.
The system layout is different with every installation.

One cold air return and one hot air supply per collector can
effectively heat up to 1,000 square feet (93 m2) or more. The
largest space AAA Solar has done with a single blower and
single hot and cold air ducts is 2,800 square feet (260 m2),
but that was unusual and had four collectors manifolded
together.
The more normal situation is one 4 by 8 foot (1.2 x 2.4 m)
collector for every 500 to 1,000 square feet (4693 m2). Larger
areas requiring more collectors are usually zonedin other
words, a separate duct and blower for each collector. Some
very large homes may require five or six systems. They will
usually work better and be more efficient as zones rather
than being manifolded together.
If possible, the hot and cold air should be separated by a
wall, although this isnt absolutely necessary. If you can find a
flow path of air that naturally fits your home and the hot air
will end up where the family spends most of the time, thats
where you want to locate the cold air grille and hot air register.
The grilles are often placed in a hallway, closet or
bedroom if the door is left open. Dont put the cold air
return in a bathroomunpleasant odors may be circulated
throughout the home. Even if the hot and cold air are in the
same room, the system will work fine if the hot air doesnt
blow directly into the cold air inlet. Separation by just a few
feet is all thats needed, but around a corner will give better
results.
Electricity
The blowers used in a normal solar air collector system
are fractional horsepower AC motors. What this means as
far as the electrical code is concerned is that they can be cord
and plug connected, and the electricity to run the blower can
be taken off any branch circuit in the home. Usually a
convenient receptacle near the cold air return makes a good
choice. An electrical remodel box can be set in the wall space
above the receptacle and wires snaked up from the
receptacle to the remodel box and down from the attic. The
line voltage thermostat controlling the system will be
mounted on the remodel box.
Cautionif you choose to do the wiring yourself, make
sure the breaker to the receptacle is off. Also make sure the
Left: Kris locates and cuts a 6 by 10 inch

hole for the hot air register in the ceiling
of the living space.
Right:The register face plate is screwed

through the ceiling and into the 6 x 10 to
6 inch round (15 x 25 to 15 cm) boot in
the attic above.
92
hot air
System Wiring
Snap Disk:
Thermal switch,
at hot end of
collector
Note: Mark
both ends of
this wire black
to denote hot
High Temperature Wire:

Inside collector,
> 300F (149C)
Wire Nut
When wall-mounted hot air collectors are feasible,

the installation can be very simple.
Blower
Wire Nut
Wire:
14-2 romex for a 15 A circuit;
12-2 romex for a 20 A circuit
Heating Thermostat:
Line voltage, (cooling
thermostat will not work)
Power Supply:
120 VAC
A snap disc control at the hot air outlet is incorporated to

turn the collectors on at 110F (43C) and off at 90F (32C).
The wiring is similar to that given in the wiring drawing
with the exception that many wall mount collectors have a
provision for cord and plug connection of the fan and snap
disc control.
Backdraft dampers used with small propeller fans are
not the spring type used with blowers. These fans arent
strong enough to open spring-loaded dampers, so their
dampers are usually counterweighted. This allows them to
open with a minimum of force and still close when the fan
turns off.
The only things to watch out for with wall-mounted
collectors is ensuring that you are in a suitable stud space for
the through-the-wall ducts, and that you secure the
collectors to structural members. But this is usually not
much of a problem in most homes.
Maintenance & Repair

Note: All connections should be made in an
approved electrical box. Grounds not shown.
receptacle is not controlled by a wall switch; many in living

rooms and dens are switched. Beyond that, a picture is
worth more than a thousand wordscheck out the electrical
drawing.
Wall-Mounted Collectors
Mounting an air collector on a wall is even simpler than
the roof mount. If the collectors have the cold air inlet and
hot air outlet on opposite ends of the collector, it can even be
mounted flush with the wall. The cold air will be on the
bottom and the hot air on the top.
As long as the duct is limited to through the wall, a small
propeller fan can be used to circulate the heated air through
the collector and into the building. Since the fan is in the
airflow path, it is best to mount it in the cold air return,
pushing air through the collector. This is different than roof
mounted units, but placing a fan motor in the hot air path
may damage the motor.
Air collector systems have two moving partsthe

blower and the backdraft damper. The thermostat and snap
disc are very durable and reliable, and should last decades.
Assuming the collector is well made and the installation
done with care, all the nonmoving parts should last for fifty
years or more. The blower will eventually wear out
(lifespans of 15 to 20 years or more are common).
The backdraft damper spring may weaken with age and
fail to close all the way. An air collector system that reverse
thermosyphons at night (cold air comes into the house
through the cold air return) is a symptom of a failed
backdraft damper. In high humidity climates, failed
backdraft dampers can allow water to get into the collector.
The moisture-laden warmer air rises to the collector, and
some moisture condenses on the absorber plate and stays in
the collector.
Water in any collector can be remedied with small (1/8
inch; 3 mm) weep holes drilled in the lower corners of the
collector. Small weep holes like this will not affect
performance noticeably, but will allow any accumulated
moisture to weep out on the roof or the ground.
www.homepower.com
93
hot air
Hot Air System Costs
Item
Cost (US$)
Air collector, 4 x 8 ft., back-pass design
$760
Blower, 382 CFM, & damper
235
Duct, roof jacks, grilles, & boots
135
insulation, weatherstripping, double pane windows, and

caulking all air leaks should be taken care of before
considering a solar heating system. So if you have a good
energy-tight home heated by a forced air furnace or
woodstove, check out solar air collector systems and enjoy a
warm comfortable home, courtesy of the sun.
Mounting kit for collector, incl. lag bolts
45
Access
Thermostat, line voltage
30
Wire, remodel box, screws, duct tape, caulk,

& plastic roof cement
25
Snap disc control
20
Chuck Marken, AAA Solar Supply Inc., 2021 Zearing NW,

Albuquerque, NM 87104 800-245-0311 or 505-243-4900
Fax: 505-243-0885 info@aaasolar.com
www.aaasolar.com Manufacturer of solar air collectors
Total
$1,250
Solar Comfort
Solar air collector systems are simple, relatively easy to
install, and have quick paybacks in climates requiring
building heat in the winter. How quick the payback is
depends on the fuel displaced. It can be as little as two or
three years if displacing high priced electricity and propane.
It can be as long as fifteen years if you have cheap natural
gas and limited sunshine.
Air collector systems are a good option for saving energy
and moneyif the building is already energy tight. Good
94
ClearDome Solar Systems, 3368 Governor Dr. 153-F, San

Diego, CA 92122 619-990-7977 Fax: 831-302-6794
warmair@cleardomesolar.com www.cleardomesolar.com
Manufacturer of solar air collectors
Sun Friendly Concepts, Inc PO Box 3252, Moriarty, NM
87305 866-765-2711 Phone/Fax: 505-832-5472
sunfriendly@att.net www.sunfriendly.com
Solar installation and service contractor
Five previous articles with additional background on solar
air collectors were published in HP25, HP40, HP64, HP72,
and HP98.
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95
Photovoltaic Module
AKA: PV module, solar-electric panel, solar-electric module
Used In: Solar-electric systems both on and off the utility grid
What It Is: A group of silicon cells or other materials that are specifically
manufactured to generate electricity when exposed to sunlight.
What It Aint: Electrical photography
In 1839, a French physicist named Edmond Becquerel discovered that
certain dissimilar materials, bonded together, would generate electricity
when exposed to sunlightthe photovoltaic (foto-vl-tay-ik) effect. More
than 100 years passed before U.S.-based Bell Laboratories developed a
silicon solar cell that produced enough energy for use in practical
applicationsmainly charging batteries used in remote communications
systems. Today, companies large and small, both public and private, are
manufacturers of PVs that go into grid-connected and stand-alone power
systems.
PV modules shouldnt be confused with solar thermal modules.
Thermal panels use the suns heat to warm water or air. PV modules use
light from the sun to generate electricity, and actually perform better
when the ambient temperature is colder.
Photovoltaic modules power

homes, businesses, satellites
you name itby using sunlight to
generate electricity.
The photovoltaic effect is based on the physics of using sunlight to

force the flow of electrons through a material (typically silicon). The
silicon is doped (treated) with elements that have one more or one less
electron in the materials outer (valence) electron orbit compared to the
base cell material. The majority of PV cells use phosphorus, which has
five valence electrons, to create the negative side of the solar cell. Boron,
which has three electrons in its outer valence orbit, is often used to create
the positive side of the PV cell. When exposed to sunlight, an electrical
current is created that forces electrons to the positive side of the cell,
creating electricity that can be put to work.
PV modules are a revolutionary energy source. They have no moving
parts. In addition, PV is a modular energy source, meaning more panels
can be added to the system as energy demand grows. In most locations,
PV modules will generate all the energy it took to manufacture them in
two to four years.
Most PVs have 25 year warranties, and are expected to produce
electricity for 50 years or more. Not many products have an operational
lifespan that comes anywhere close to this. The result is emissions-free
electricity, and no finite resource use for 50 years or more. No fossil fuel
based electricity source can even begin to compete with PV when clean
electricity, resource use, and durability are considered.
Joe Schwartz joe.schwartz@homepower.com
96
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97
The Nuts & Bolts

of Fasteners
Part 1
Mike Brown
2004 Mike Brown
Using the correct fasteners has a direct effect on the

safety and reliability of a vehicle, mechanism, or structure.
Choosing hardware for your electric vehicle (EV) conversion
should not mean grabbing whatever is in the coffee can on
your workbench.
What is a 5/16 inch18 x 11/2 inch, Grade 5,

hex head cap screw?
Lets break that question down and look at the separate
parts. First, we have to examine the dimension 5/16 inch and
the last four words, hex head cap screw, to define the
terms that will be used in the rest of this article.
The word screw is used to define a fastener with screw
threads as opposed to a smooth sided fastener like a rivet or
pin. In this article, we will use the common practice of
calling any threaded fastener from #4 (0.116 inch diameter)
up to 1/4 inch diameter a machine screw, and any fastener
from 1/4 inch diameter and up a bolt. In common usage, the
object in question would be called a 5/16 inch bolt, as all
threaded fasteners are first defined by their outside
diameter (OD).
I use these on the motor-to-transmission adaptor of an

EV. In this application, it is recessed in a counterbored hole.
A counterbore is a flat-bottomed hole whose diameter is
slightly larger than the diameter of the head of the cap
screw, and has a depth greater than the head height. This
hole is made with a tool called a counterbore after the hole
for the body of the bolt is drilled.
The second type is called a flat head cap screw. It has the
same hex socket as the socket head cap screw, and has a flat
head with an outside diameter a little more than twice the
OD of the body of the bolt. The underside of the head tapers
from the OD of the head to the OD of the body at an 82
degree angle.
The flat head cap screw is used when the head of the
fastener has to be flush with the surface of a part that isnt
thick enough to be counterbored to accept a socket head cap
screw. To accomplish this, a tool called a countersink is used
to form a recess around the bolt hole that matches the shape
of the bottom of the flat head cap screw. Another function of
the large diameter head with the tapered bottom is that it
spreads the load from the bolt head over a larger area.
If you are looking at the small (up to 1/4 inch diameter)
machine screws, there are more head styles to choose from.
While hex heads are not used on these screws, the Allen
Head Trips
Hex head cap screw describes a
threaded fastener that has a six sided
(hex) cap or head on one end that
gives you a place to grip the fastener
with a wrench and thread it into a
threaded hole or nut.
Two other cap screw types are also
used on automobiles and machinery.
The first type is called a socket head cap
screw. This fastener has a round head
with a hex socket formed into the center
of the cap for the hex or Allen wrench
that is used to thread it into place. This
cap screw is used in places where there
isnt room for the head of a hex head cap
screw, or when the top of the fasteners
head cant project above the surface of
the part its installed in.
98
L to R: Grade 5 and Grade 8 hex head cap screws, a socket head cap screw,
and a flat head cap screw. Rear and far right: two types of Allen wrenches
for socket and flat head screws.
nuts & bolts
L to R: Coarse and fine threaded bolts; Phillips head and

straight slot machine screws.
welder who builds the battery racks and motor mounts for
my kits thinks that all the fasteners on a chassis should be
fine threaded because they are stronger. However, the
fastener salesman I buy from thinks that the fine thread
form is obsolete and should not be used or even produced
at all. He feels that the 10 percent difference in strength is
not an issue.
I agree, and when given the choice, I use coarse threaded
fasteners. They are easier to use, and have less chance of
cross threading when you are starting the nut on the bolt or
installing a bolt into a tapped hole. They make assembly and
disassembly fasterfewer threads per inch means fewer
turns of the wrench.
Coarse threaded fasteners are readily available in more
sizes than fine threaded ones. If you are building a new
conversion, pick one form to use and stay with it. You might
have to switch thread types if a component has threaded
holes with a different form.
The Long & Short of It

socket head and the Allen socket flat head are. There are
also two different head shapes and two other drive styles.
The round heads shape is described by its name and is the
more common style. The pan head, which looks like a
frying pan turned upside down, is used where head
clearance is an issue.
The other drive styles are the straight slot and Phillips
head. The main difference between them is their resistance to
damage by the screwdriver during installation and removal.
The straight slot screw head is the easiest to damage. The
Phillips head style is stronger but can still be stripped out.
The Allen socket style is the strongest, but the drive tool
required is not as available as the common screwdriver.
Coarse & Fine

If the fraction 5/16 inch defines the size of our bolt, what
does the -18 mean? This part of the bolts description tells
us that there are 18 whole threads per inch of bolt length.
The 5/16 inch -18 thread is considered a coarse threaded bolt,
and is identified by the initials UNC. A 5/16 inch bolt with 20
threads per inch is considered a fine threaded bolt and
identified by the initials UNF.
The UNC and UNF initials mean that the threads on
these bolts comply with the Unified Thread Form Series.
Some hardware stores and fastener suppliers use the
initials USS for UNC and SAE for UNF, but they mean the
same thing.
A thread form series is defined by the thread angle, the
distance between the teeth of the thread (pitch), the major
and minor diameters of the thread, and the clearances
between the male and female threads of fasteners being
threaded together. The value of a standard thread form
system is a guarantee of interchangeability between all
fasteners made to the specifications of that form.
Fine thread bolts are about 10 percent stronger than
coarse thread bolts because they provide more contact area
per inch of bolt length. This is the basis for a long running
argument amongst people involved with fasteners. The
Ive defined all of the parts of the bolt except the number
11/2 inch, which is the length. Since you will be concerned
with whether the bolt is long enough or short enough for
your application, you should know how to measure the
length of a bolt. Both the hex head and socket head bolts are
measured from the bottom of the head to the end of the bolt.
In contrast, the flat head bolt is measured from the flat, top
surface of the head to the end of the bolt.
Bolts come in many different lengths, depending on head
style, diameter, and thread type, coarse or fine. If you are
starting a conversion from scratch, go to your local hardware
store and do your design based on whats available.
Another thing to consider when deciding what length of
bolt to use is the length of the body of the bolt. The body of
the bolt is the unthreaded part between the head and the
threads. The threaded part is the weakest part of a bolt.
When the forces acting on a bolt holding two parts together
are perpendicular to the length of the bolt, the bolt is said to
be loaded in shear. The forces trying to shear or bend the
bolt are concentrated where the two parts meet.
Choose a bolt that is long enough to place the body of
the bolt where the parts come together. If this causes the
body of the bolt to project out of the hole, use washers as
spacers. Position the nut on the bolt so the last two threads
are covered by the washers, and at least two threads project
beyond the top of the nut.
The first two threads on the end of the bolt and the last
two threads before the body are considered imperfect
because they are not fully formed and cant give the same
strength as fully formed threads. Like the top step on a
ladder, they are there, but should not be used to bear a load.
Manufacturers use a formula to determine the minimum
threaded portion of a bolt. On some short bolts, this reduces
or eliminates the body.
Making the Grade

Bolts are graded according to the amount of tensile force
needed to make them begin to stretch. This kind of strength
www.homepower.com
99
nuts & bolts

under tension is called tensile
not as important. Lack of availability,
strength. Raised markings on the top
high cost, and low strength make
of the hex head tell what grade the bolt
specifying all stainless steel hardware
is. The strength of a bolt is determined
for your conversion a bad idea.
by the metal it is made of and how it is
treated. Lets look at the grade system
The Finishing Touch
and the things that determine a bolts
As you look through the bolt bins,
grade.
you will notice that the bolts arent all
A Grade 2 bolt is the common
the same color. This is because the
hardware store bolt. Its hex head has
different types and grades of bolts have
no marks on it. This grade of fastener
different finishes. Most Grade 5 bolts
L to R: Round head, pan head,
is made of low carbon steel and is not
are zinc plated, making them a silver
and flat head machine screws.
heat-treated. You should not use
color. The zinc gold dichromate finish
Grade 2 bolts in any EV application.
of the Grade 8 bolts makes them look
Grade 5 bolts can also be readily
lightly gold plated, which some people
found in your local hardware store. In fact, many better
say is the reason they are so expensive. This color difference
stores dont even carry the lower Grade 2 bolts at all, and
is there to show what grade the bolt is at a glance, so you
carry Grade 5 instead. Three raised, evenly spaced, radial
dont accidentally use a Grade 8 bolt to do a Grade 5 job.
lines on the hex head identify it. This bolt is made of medium
The socket head and flat head bolts have a black alloy finish
carbon steel that is quenched and hardened after it is formed.
that sets them apart from the graded bolts. Stainless steel
Quenching involves thrusting a hot bolt into a liquid, usually
bolts are not coated, so they are a natural, dull silver color.
an oil. This cools it rapidly and forms a thin layer of carbon
on the surface, which strengthens the bolt.
Its All in the Details
Grade 5 bolts can be used throughout your conversion.
Who knew a simple bolt could be so complicated? Now
They are best suited for use where there are shear loads acting
you know about sizing, head types, threads, and grades, as
on the fasteners, like bolting motor mounts to the frame.
well as some tips about how and when to use each of the
Grade 5 bolts are also very good in places like the suspension
choices. Ive covered all of this while talking about bolts and
system, where the fastener needs to be able to absorb shocks.
machine screws. Next time, Ill continue with the fascinating
Grade 8 is the highest grade assigned to hex bolts. Six
secret lives of nuts and washers. Ill also cover metric
raised lines on the head identify these fasteners. Grade 8
standards, and why that 10 mm machine screw doesnt
bolts are made of medium carbon alloy steel and are also
want to work in your 10 mm threaded hole. Stay tuned!
quenched and tempered to a high degree of hardness. This
hardness makes them brittle, which makes them less
Access
suitable for shear and shock loads than Grade 5. They
Mike Brown, Electro Automotive, PO Box 1113-HP, Felton,
should be used where there are tension loads only; that is, in
CA 95018 831-429-1989 Fax: 831-429-1907
places where the forces acting on the body of the bolt are
electro@cruzio.com www.electroauto.com
trying to pull it apart. Bolting battery racks to the frame of
the vehicle is an example.
Carroll Smiths Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners, and Plumbing Handbook,
You might have trouble finding Grade 8 fasteners in
by Carroll Smith, 1990, ISBN: 0879384069, 224 pages,
hardware stores that are more oriented towards
US$21.95 from Motorbooks International, 380 Jackson St.,
homeowners. If you live in a rural area, try a farm and ranch
Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101 800-826-6600 or
supply business. Their customers are into the kind of
715-294-3345 Fax: 715-294-4448 trade@motorbooks.com
reliability that the right bolts in the right places give them.
www.motorbooks.com
The grade system is applied to hex headed bolts only.
Socket head and flat head bolts are ungraded. However,
they are made of the same alloy steel as Grade 8 bolts, are
quenched and tempered the same way, and have a tensile
University
strength rating that exceeds that of a Grade 8 bolt.
Teaching
Bolts made of stainless steel are graded on a different
Position
system according to what type of stainless steel they are
The curriculum focuses on the history and philosophy of
made from. Most hardware store bins will not specify the
appropriate technology, solar thermal technology, renewable
electricity, green building, sustainable transportation, and water &
alloy, so this is kind of a moot point for the home fabricator.
waste management technologies. The job would include: teaching,
The alloys primarily affect things like magnetic qualities
advising, curriculum development, laboratory management and
and corrosion resistance, not strength. In general, stainless
development, scholarly/creative activity, fund raising, and
professional service.
steel bolts will have only about two-thirds the tensile and
For more information contact: Dennis Scanlin, Coordinator,
shear strength of Grade 5 hardware.
Appropriate Technology scanlindm@appstate.edu
Stainless steel fasteners should only be used where
828-262-6361 http://www.tec.appstate.edu/
corrosion resistance is necessary and load-carrying ability is
Renewable Energy
100
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101
code corner
Common Mistakes
& How to Avoid Them
John Wiles
Sponsored by the Photovoltaic Systems Assistance Center,
Sandia National Laboratories
Designing and installing a PV system that meets the

minimum requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC)
doesnt take any more time, effort, or cost than installing a
system that does not meet the code. This Code Corner will
outline some of the common errors that are made in the
installation of PV systems, and what could have been done
to avoid them.
Back in the late 1800s, Tom Edison used DC electrical

systems many years before Westinghouse and AC electricity
came along. Early versions of the code addressed these DC
systems, and DC has continued in the code ever since,
although most of the attention has focused on AC systems in
recent years. The early code and all subsequent revisions
established that all (DC, and then AC) grounded circuit
conductors be identified with white or gray colored
insulation. Insulation identified with three white stripes
along its length is also allowed.
Conductor sizes larger than #6 (13 mm2) can be
identified with white or gray marking at each termination
because these conductors are nearly always made with
only black insulation. The other frequently used color
code is that equipment-grounding conductors be bare (no
insulation) or have green or green and yellow insulation.
There are no other color codes in the NEC that are
commonly used in residential and commercial electrical
installations. There are no specified color codes for
ungrounded conductors, and there are no color codes

associated with DC wiring.
Many PV installers throughout the United States feel
that the DC wiring in a PV system should have red
insulation for the positive conductor and black insulation
for the negative conductor. The roots of this misconception
may be in the automotive and electronics industries.
Inappropriate color coding has been used in numerous PV
systems that have grounded conductors and operate at
voltages from 12 to 600 volts.
The photo (bottom left) is typical of recently installed
systems observed on the East and West Coasts and in
Phoenix, Arizona. Any PV junction box with no white
conductors probably does not meet the code.
If the PV system were an ungrounded 12 volt PV
system, the NEC has nothing to say about the color of the
insulation on the two ungrounded conductors. Red and
black would be perfectly acceptable. However, on
grounded 12 volt systems and all higher voltage systems
(which are required to be grounded by code), the
grounded circuit conductor (usually the negative
conductor) is required to be white, gray, or marked with
those colors. As a matter of common usage in AC circuits,
the first ungrounded conductor is colored black and the
second ungrounded conductor is colored red, but these
are not code requirements.
The reason why this misuse of color codes continues to
exist is not known. For years, Home Power has been using
Not to code: improper color coding.
Not to code: grounded conductor switched.
Color Codes
102
code corner
Not to code: disconnect 10 feet in the air.
Not to code: DC250 mounted horizontally.
red and black color codes for readability and to differentiate

DC wiring from AC wiring in system schematics. This may
have contributed to the problem.
DisconnectsWhich Conductors?
Disconnects (safety switches and circuit breakers)
should never be installed in the grounded conductor of DC
PV circuits. For that matter, they are not usually allowed in
the grounded conductors of AC circuits either. When these
disconnects are installed in this manner and operated, a
grounded conductor from a PV array will become
ungrounded and will still be energized when the PV array is
sunlit. Since all grounded conductors (marked white) are
assumed to be grounded (at earth potential), it may come as
a surprising shock when one is touched and it turns out to
be energized with respect to ground.
There is a common misconception that when both
conductors of a circuit are ungrounded, it is not possible to
get shocked by touching ground and one of the conductors.
Distributed small leakage paths in PV modules and wiring
will generally prevent a truly isolated, ungrounded circuit,
and a definite shock potential usually results.
Many of the grounded SMA Sunny Boy and Xantrex PVseries high-voltage systems seem to get disconnects installed
with the positive and negative conductors both switched. See
the photo labled not to code: grounded conductor switched
on the previous page. This may come about from the switch
manufacturers tech notes that say: Use the outer two poles
of the three-pole disconnect to achieve the 600 volt DC rating.
In our PV systems, the two outer poles should be connected in
series and then used to switch only the ungrounded (normally
the positive) conductor.
As an aside, Square D has obtained a special listing on
their H361/HU 361 30-amp, 3-pole, 600 volt heavy duty
safety switch when used with PV systems. (See Access for
details.) If the PV string short-circuit current is below about
12 amps, then each of the three poles can be used as a 600
volt disconnect without connecting the poles in series. One
H361 (fused) switch could be used for all three PV strings
connected to a Sharp 3,500 watt inverter. Up to three Sunny
Boy 2500 inverters could use a single HU361 (unfused)
disconnect. The Sunny Boy inverter cannot backfeed
currents into the PV array, so DC fuses are normally not
needed when only one or two strings of modules are
connected to the inverters. Therefore, the unfused HU361
disconnect may be used.
Not to code: triple whammy.
DisconnectsLocation & Orientation

The rule for mounting many disconnects seems to be
wherever it will fit. The NEC requires disconnects (switches
and circuit breakers) to be located with the handles in the
upper position no more than 6 feet, 7 inches (2 m) above the
floor or ground. The manufacturers instructions on many
high current switches and breakers (like those used for large
PV system disconnects and battery disconnects) require that
they be mounted on a vertical surface and oriented so that the
handle also moves vertically rather than horizontally. This
must be done so that the internal arc suppression mechanisms
function properly (hot arcs rise).
The photo (top right), a triple whammy, shows a
disconnect and combiner box using black wires for
grounded conductors, switching the grounded conductor,
and mounted 10 feet (3 m) above the ground.
Installing PV systems safely and in compliance with the
codes is not difficult. It takes some understanding of the
requirements. After all, hundreds of thousands of new homes
and electrical systems are installed every year throughout the
country, and most are in full compliance with the National
Electrical Code. Why should PV systems be any different?
Access
John C. Wiles, Southwest Technology Development
Institute, New Mexico State University, Box 30,001/MSC 3
SOLAR, Las Cruces, NM 88003 505-646-6105
Fax: 505-646-3841 jwiles@nmsu.edu
www.nmsu.edu/~tdi/pv.htm
Sponsor: Sandia National Laboratories, Ward Bower,
Department 6218, MS 0753, Albuquerque, NM 87185
505-844-5206 Fax: 505-844-6541 wibower@sandia.gov
www.sandia.gov/pv
Special listing information on the Square D H361/HU361
safety switch: www.squareD.com/us/products/
safetysw.nsf/DocumentsByCategory/DD5F1F9416FA23668
5256D350071EC30 or go to www.sma-america.com and
select Tech Updates
The 2002 NEC and the NEC Handbook are available from
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 11 Tracy
Dr., Avon, MA 02322 800-344-3555 or 508-895-8300
Fax: 800-593-6372 or 508-895-8301 custserv@nfpa.org
www.nfpa.org
www.homepower.com
103
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105
independent power providers
Lights Out
Don Loweburg
2004 Don Loweburg
It is no surprise to most people that occasionally the

electricity grid goes down. As they say, stuff happens. Trees
blow down during storms, taking utility lines with them.
Lightning strikes take out transformers. Vehicle crashes
interrupt service. Substation transformers overload. Though
the frequency of these events can be reduced by maintenance
and prevention programs, such as tree trimming, safety
barriers, easements, better equipment design, etc., they are
generally regarded as acts of god or accidents.
Recently, there have been several grid failures of a totally
different nature. Most notable is the outage in New York on
August 14, 2003. It lasted 24 hours and affected 50 million
people. These system crashes are not limited to the United
States. Another recent failure occurred in Italy, September 29,
2003, lasting 8 hours and keeping 54 million people in the
dark. Sweden and Denmark also had an outage on September
23, 2003, lasting 2 hours, and affecting 4 million people.
Though there have been regional grid collapses in the past,
the frequency of these recent events clearly exceed any
historical norm. For example, during the last 31 years, regional
outages were much less frequent. There have been three in the
United States: California, August 1996; New York, July 1977;
and New England, November 1965. The increased frequency
of these grid failures indicates a larger, more pervasive
problem. The transmission and distribution systems are
becoming unstable. Failure in one area propagates to other
areas. What is causing the erosion of grid reliability?
Mainstream Gets It Wrong

Most news media coverage of the 2003 New York
blackout presented the outage as the expected result of
transmission capacity shortfalls. Former Energy Secretary,
Bill Richardson (now governor of New Mexico), said during
a CNN interview, Were a superpower with a Third World
grid. The Washington Post headline for an article by Peter
Behr on August 15, 2003 read, System Crash Was
Predicted. James Jelter of Reuters wrote, Blackout Betrays
Ailing North American Power Grid.
Mainstream media explanations of why the outage
occurred universally focused on insufficient transmission
capacity. The cure most often suggested was to increase the
transmission capacity of the grid. This simplistic
explanation and cure, however, was challenged by more
rigorous authors and publications.
A Deeper Analysis
The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)
revealed a deeper level of analysis when they wrote, The
106
grid is now being used in ways for which it was not

designed, and there has been a quantum leap in the number
and complexity of transactions. The users and operators of
the transmission system, who used to cooperate voluntarily
on reliability matters, are now competitors without the same
incentives to cooperate with each other or to comply with
voluntary reliability rules. As a result, there has been a
marked increase in the number and seriousness of violations
of these rules. All of these changes are jeopardizing the very
stability of the electric system upon which our economy and
our society depends and there is little or no effective recourse
today to correct such behavior.
What is the misuse of the grid to which NERC is
referring? The answer to this question is detailed in an
article by Eric Lerner titled, Whats Wrong with the Electric
Grid? The article appeared in the October/November 2003
issue of Industrial Physicist. Lerner states, Experts widely
agree that such failures of the power-transmission system
are a nearly unavoidable product of a collision between the
physics of the system and the economic rules that now
regulate it.
The economic rules he is referring to are deregulation
and the corresponding increase in electricity trades now
occurring. These rules allowed traders to game the
electricity market in California two years ago at a cost of
US$30 billion to ratepayers and taxpayers.
The physics of the grid (its design and structure as
originally conceived) is intended to deliver electricity from a
central point of generation radially outward to customers.
Superimposed on the radial structure is a system of links that
allow energy generated in one system to be moved to another
system. Following the 1965 New York grid collapse, these
interties were created with the understanding that they would
increase system reliability. Today, these links, coupled with
electricity trading, contribute to the instability of the grid.
Mr. Lerner supports this conclusion by noting that,
Although power generation (for consumption) in 2003 has
only increased 3 percent above that in 2000, generation by
independent power producers, a rough estimate of
wholesale trading, has doubled. He goes one step further
by providing a smoking gun.
He correlates the onset of trading, beginning with
implementation of FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission) Order 888 allowing wholesale wheeling
(trading) in March 2000, with a significant increase in grid
stress as measured by two indicators recorded by NERC.
One indicator, TLRs (transmission loading relief
procedures), is a statistic that includes relieving line loads

Frequency Instability
on the Grid
0.008
225
150
75
0
Jan.
1999
Jul. Feb.
1999 2000
Aug.
2000
Mar. Sep.
2001 2001
Apr. Nov.
2002 2002
May
2003
Date
Procedures
Average Errors (Hz)
Procedures per Month
Transmission Loading
Relief Procedures
0.006
0.004
0.002
0.000
-0.002
Order 888 Implemented
Jan.
99
Jul.
99
Feb. Aug. Mar. Sep.

00
00
01
01
An Integrated Systems Approach

Needed
In my column in HP98, a national Manhattan Project for
renewables was envisioned. Such an approach would be
incomplete if it proceeded without duly embracing the
benefits of distributed generation. In fact, distributed
generation will be the necessary context in which renewable
generation succeeds.
Nov. May
02
03
Date
Frequency Errors
by shifting energy to other linesusually associated with

overloading transmission lines. Since trading began in late
1999, TLRs have increased by 700 percent.
A second documented indicator of grid stress cited in
Lerners article is frequency instability. As the grid becomes
stressed, small frequency perturbations increase. Since
wholesale trading began in late 1999, the documented rate
of these perturbations has also increased about 700 percent
(see graph).
Lerners conclusion is that the grid was not designed for
energy trading. He does concede that increasing
transmission capacity would increase stability. However, he
points out that the cost would be borne by ratepayers, since
transmission and distribution continue to be regulated. This
would be a major cost shifting to ratepayers since the
unregulated generators and traders would not be paying for
the transmission upgrades, though they would benefit.
Having ratepayers pay the upgrade costs is yet another
huge subsidy benefiting the generation cartels.
None of the above analysis could be heard or found in
the major public media. The resounding media mantra was
more transmission capacity. This is not surprising, given
that the dialogue is controlled by the utilities and energy
holding companies. They, to be sure, would be well served
by increased transmission capacity paid for by ratepayers.
However, is this the best solution? Might there be another
approach that provides superior reliability, lower cost, and
allocates that cost fairly? That approach, really a new
paradigm, is distributed generation.
Apr.
02
Order 888 Implemented
Graph data from North American Electric Reliability Council.
One of the primary benefits of distributed generation is

that it significantly reduces the amount of energy lost in the
transmission and distribution of electricity. Often generating
plants are many miles away from the cities and customers
they serve. Electric transmission losses can be as high as 20
percent. Distributed generation located at the point of use
would not suffer these losses.
Imagine reducing the need for central generation
capacity by 20 percent. Grid reliability would be increased
substantially without the cost of transmission upgrades. If
distributed cogeneration were used, an additional 30
percent increase in efficiency is possible due to waste heat
recovery. Replace fuel burners with distributed fuel cells
and even greater efficiencies are possible.
An additional unique benefit of distributed PV
generation is that the daily output matches very closely the
summer load requirements of the grid. PV output peaks
during the midday peak demands caused by air
conditioning and water pumping. This automatic match
between supply and demand simplifies the job of
dispatch at the central generating plant. Dispatch for
utilities is always challenging because the large mechanical
generating sources they depend on cannot be turned on and
off quickly.
Another element of the distributed generation model is
the possibility of microgrids. Microgrids could be composed
of a mix of generation technologies, for instance, PV plus fuel
cells operating on natural gas. Under normal conditions,
microgrids could be connected to the larger utility grid.
However because a microgrid would have standalone
capability, it could be intentionally islanded if desired.
This capability would have a twofold benefit. The larger
utility network would benefit under conditions of stress by
being able to shed load in a systematic manner without
www.homepower.com
107

leaving customers in the dark. Customers connected to a
microgrid would benefit from the increased reliability of
standalone capability during periods of utility stress. (For
more on microgrids, see Access.)
Today, this country is at a critical point. In a sense, the
lines are drawn. On the one hand, we have the nuke-carbon
proponents and their preferred model of central generation
and transmission. On the other are proponents of
renewables and distributed generation. Fundamentally, the
situation can be appreciated as an evolutionary transition.
From this point of view, it is inevitable that efficiency and
reliability will prevail. The only question is how long the
transition will take, and how much suffering must be
endured getting there!
In closing, I quote David Morris from his Web article,
Blackout: Repeating Energy History. He concludes, We
need to adopt a bottom-up approach. We need to establish
rules that will channel entrepreneurial energy, investment
capital, and scientific genius toward building a two-way
electricity system, one in which millions of households and
businesses become producers as well as consumers. We
need to develop the rules that will enable and encourage a
distributed, decentralized, democratic electricity system.
Access
Don Loweburg, IPP, PO Box 231, North Fork, CA 93643
559-877-7080 i2p@aol.com www.i2p.org
North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC),
Princeton Forrestal Village, 116-390 Village Blvd.,
Princeton, NJ 08540 609-452-8060 Fax: 609-452-9550
info@nerc.com www.nerc.com/about/legislation.html
Blackout: Repeating Energy History, David Morris
www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8646
Whats Wrong with the Electric Grid?, Eric Lerner
www.aip.org/tip/INPHFA/vol-9/iss-5/p8.html
A Micro-Grid with PV, Fuel Cells, and Energy Efficiency
http://arizonaenergy.org/Analysis/DistributedEnergy/
MicroGrids2.pdf Slightly dated but a good introduction
to the subject
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Choosing renewable energy is easy. Making informed decisions
about what, when, and how may not be. Put trusted, time-tested
advice on your side. Thats Home Power magazine.
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109
writing for HP
Writing for Home Power

Home Power is a users technical journal. We specialize in
hands-on, practical information about small-scale
renewable energy systems. We try to present technical
material in an easy to understand and easy to use format.
Here are some guidelines for getting your renewable energy
(RE) experiences printed in Home Power.
Informational Content
Please include all the details! Be specific! We are more
interested in specific information than in general
information. Write from your direct experienceHome
Power is hands-on! Articles must be detailed enough that
our readers can actually use the information. Name names,
and give us actual numbers, product names, and sources.
If you are writing about someone elses system or
project, we require a written release from the owner or other
principal before we can consider printing the article.
Article Style & Length

Home Power articles can be between 350 and 5,000 words.
Length depends on what you have to say. Say it in as few
words as possible.
We prefer simple declarative sentences that are short
(fewer than twenty words) and to the point. We like the
generous use of subheadings to organize the information.
We highly recommend writing from within an outline.
Check out articles printed in Home Power. After youve
studied a few, you will get a feeling for our style.
We edit all articles for accuracy, length, content,
organization, and basic English. You can help by keeping
your sentences short, simple, and to the point. Our editing
crew will make your text shine.
Art, Schematics, & Tables

System articles must contain a schematic drawing
showing all wiring. Our art department can make gorgeous
diagrams, charts, and schematics from your rough sketches.
If you want to submit a computer file of a schematic or other
line art, please call or e-mail us first.
For system articles, we require a load table listing all
loads, with wattage and run time. We also require an
itemized cost table listing each system component and its
cost. We prefer to have the tables come to us in Excel format.
But we can use them from any word processor or
spreadsheet format if they are saved as text only, with tabs
as the delimiter between data.
photosyou might even find your system on HPs cover.

People are nice in photos; a fuse box is only so interesting,
even to solar nerds.
Digital photos should be at least 280 pixels per inch (ppi)
at the final printed size. This means that a column width
photo should be 1,000 pixels wide or more. A full page
width photo should be at least 2,300 pixels wide. Basically,
set your digital camera at its highest resolution, and crop
thoughtfully. We prefer Photoshop files, but we can handle
the following formats in descending order of preference
EPS, TIFF, and JPEG.
Computer Talk
We can take text from most word processors. Save all
word processor files in TEXT or ASCII TEXT format.
This means removing all word processor formatting and
graphics. Use the Save As Text option in your word
processor.
If you want to send files larger than 5 MB (such as digital
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incoming folder. Please e-mail us after you have sent files
via FTP.
Putting It All Together

We get many more articles submitted than we can print.
The most useful, specific, organized, and complete get
published first. Here are the basic components of a great
Home Power article:
Clearly written, well organized, and complete text, with
a strong introductory paragraph, subheads for each
major section, and a strong closing paragraph.
Photos (plenty) with comprehensive captions.
Cost table.
Load table.
Other tables, charts, and diagrams as appropriate.
System schematic.
Complete access information for author, installers,
consultants, suppliers, and manufacturers.
Have any questions? Give us a call Monday through
Friday from 9 to 5 Pacific and ask. Or send e-mail. This saves
everyones time. We hope to see your RE project in Home
Power soon!
Photographs
Access
We can work from good photographic prints, slides, or

negatives. We prefer 4 by 6 inch color prints with no
fingerprints or scratches. Do not write on the back of your
photographs, since the ink can transfer to the front of the
next photo. Please provide a comprehensive caption and
photo credit for each photo. Include some vertical format
Home Power magazine, PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520

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110
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111
power politics
Nuclear
WasteNIABY
Michael Welch
2004 Michael Welch
The Power Politics column in HP96 about my tour of the

the deadly stuff. We must close down every nuclear reactor
proposed Yucca Mountain high level nuclear waste
in the world as soon as possibleincluding those reactors
repository near Las Vegas generated more comments than
that are making nuclear weapons materials. That way the
any other column I can recall. Most of the comments were
problem of what to do with the waste will not become larger
positive, and many came with a question or two about
than it already is.
radioactive waste.
A couple of comments came from people who believe
No Solution Is Good
that nuclear power is the primary answer to the worlds
My answer to storing nuclear waste is to leave it right
energy problems. Still other comments came from people
where it was produced. There are several components to my
who seemed to have exactly the mindset that the column
thinking on this. First, I am not a NIMBY (not in my back
was really aboutthe belief that academicians and
yard) environmentalist. In fact, there is a nuclear power
engineers should always be able to come up with a
plant local to me, and I even advocate that the waste be
technological fix for any problem posed. One of these
stored here, at our plant. What I firmly believe in is
folks even went so far as to suggest that since I do not
NIABYnot in anyones back yard. No community should
have background and training in chemistry (as
have to put up with nuclear waste.
he did) or nuclear physics, that I should not
But that ship has sailed, and there is
be commenting on things that I do not
already
nuclear waste at various power
What I firmly
understand. But if the scientists
plants throughout the United States. The
believe in is
understand this so well, how come
potential for transportation accidents is
after 60 years and hundreds of billions
probably the biggest reason for not
NIABYnot in
of dollars, no good solution has
moving it again. The opening of Yucca
anyones back yard.
shown up?
Mountain is referred to as a mobile
Chernobyl by the independent press,
No community should and for good reason. All it takes is one
Techno-Fix Is In
The practical application of the
have to put up with serious slip-up in the more than 80,000
techno-fix mindset is that the way to
planned shipments of radioactive waste
nuclear waste.
solve a problem, no matter how large or
to turn another community into a nuclear
difficult, is to simply throw extraordinary
waste problem.
amounts of money at it. Dennis Kucinich said,
Nuclear power presents obvious problems
When our children fail competency tests, the
at the point of production, and moving most of the
schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we
waste from the power plants to Yucca Mountain is not going
increase funding. This approach is also being applied to the
to completely solve them. Those communities will still have
unsolved, and probably unsolvable, question of nuclear
operating power plants and the ensuing waste, and will still
waste. And our government selectively applies this kind of
have contaminated equipment and environs. So, it does not
funding only to industries that have a lot of influence, like
make much sense to add yet another contaminated area
the arms industry, which is very closely aligned with the
(Yucca) just to remove some of the contamination from other
nuclear power industry.
communities.
The main question I received about that Yucca Mountain
Local bumper stickers say, Nevada Is Not a
tour article was, OK then, what are we going to do with all
Wasteland, and the Nevada desert should not be treated as
the nuclear waste? That is a really tough question, because
such. Nevadans care just as much about their environs as
there is no acceptable way to deal with it. The bottom line is
those of us who care about our wetter surroundings.
that we have to quit assuming that some day there will be a
Moving the waste to Nevada would give final legitimacy to
technological fix, and that means we have to stop producing
the intentionally flawed process that pinpointed Nevada as
112
power politics
a wasteland and as the repository state. Nevada was not
chosen because it is the best place for the waste to go. It was
chosen because it had less political clout than the other
states being considered.
Take the Bad with the Good

Nuclear waste is a burden, and to me the burden is
rightfully borne by the same communities that enjoyed
the benefits of the electricity produced by these plants. In
the interest of fairness, communities should be willing to
bear the negatives as well as the positives of nuclear power,
rather than foisting the negatives on other communities.
With the exception of the transportation problems, none
of these reasons by themselves are enough reason to keep
the waste local. But when you put them all together, the
argument is pretty compelling.
What about other methods of off-site disposal besides
long-term storage in Nevada? Unfortunately, most require
the same kind of transportation as the Yucca option, plus the
results of the method itself. The most commonly mentioned
idea is sending the waste to the Sun, or elsewhere in outer
space. Talk about a transportation problemplenty of
rocket launches blow up in the atmosphere. Imagine
scattering plutonium and other dangerous isotopes over
thousands of square miles of Earth.
Vitrification is fusing the nuclear waste with glass or
ceramic material, ostensibly to lock the waste into a form
that will be more stable in the environment. This idea was
popular in the 1980s, since it was Frances preferred method
of dealing with the waste. More recently, it has been
somewhat discredited because there is little proof that the
vitrification will lock the waste up as long as necessary. But
this process is still being considered for some rarer, liquid,
high level waste, such as is found in the leaking tanks on the
Hanford, Washington, nuclear reservation.
Reprocessing is now Frances preferred method of
dealing with their waste, and they even offer it as an
international service. This has also been tried in the U.S. and
other countries, with pretty poor results. Not only is
transportation still an issue, but the process itself produces
hard-to-contain contamination, and it is also quite
expensive. Since the main point of reprocessing is to
separate the plutonium so that the rest of the waste can
become reactor fuel again, there are nuclear weapons
proliferation issues as well. And making new fuel from old
just encourages the use of more nuclear energy.
activists, is that the fuel rods should be stored indefinitely in

those pools, where they can be monitored by human beings
as long as we inhabit the earth.
There are site-specific exceptions to this rule. The
power plant near me sits on a major earthquake fault, and
the fuel handling building, where the spent fuel pool is, will
not survive an earthquake when (not if) one occurs. So for
this plant, and other plants with site-specific problems, we
should be using dry cask storage (DCS)but still on the
plants site.
DCS works for fuel that has had time to cool down after
being in a reactor. The casks are designed to handle
earthquakes, and can also be designed as transportation
casks, just in case there ever is a place to move the fuel. Once
the fuel is moved to the casks from the pool, the casks can be
lowered into specially designed belowground vaults for
protection from the elements and terrorists.
The bottom line is that we need to stop producing this
horrible poison called nuclear waste, so we wont need to
store it anywhere. Unfortunately, the nuclear industry has
too much power over our government. They have heavily
influenced the new energy bill, and if it ever passes, they are
lined up for US$7.5 billion in production tax credits to
encourage the construction of new nuclear power plants,
US$1.1 billion in direct subsidies for the development of a
new reactor to produce hydrogen, and US$2.7 billion more
for R&D to come up with the next generation of nuclear
power plants.
Access
Michael Welch, c/o Redwood Alliance, PO Box 293, Arcata,
CA 95518 707-822-7884
michael.welch@homepower.com
www.redwoodalliance.org
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Whether youre selling via the Web, mail-order

catalog, storefront, or all of the above, an educated
customer makes your job a lot easier. Help them
along by including Home Power magazine and our
complete CD-ROM-based back issue library in your
product mix. Theres no more trusted source in print
for accurate, reliable RE information and instruction.
For easy marketing, we'll provide full descriptive
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115
word power
Power Factor
Ratio of True to Apparent Power
Ian Woofenden
2004 Ian Woofenden
Electrons, or charges, are the energy carriers in an

electrical circuit. Charges are part of the material of the
conductor, the copper or aluminum wire. They go in one
direction around a direct current (DC) circuit. They go back
and forth in an alternating current (AC) circuit. Charges
dont leave the circuit, and they arent used up.
In AC circuits, the direction of charge flow reverses
many times a second. The voltage (electrical pressure) and
amperage (rate of charge flow) go from zero to maximum in
one direction (positive), back to zero, to the maximum in
the other direction (negative), and then back to zero. We
call this a cycle, and in the United States, AC is 60 cycles
per second (Hertz or Hz for short).
When the voltage and amperage peak and then go to
zero at the same time as each other, we say that they are in
phase. (See diagram below left.) This is what happens in
circuits that have only resistance. But many AC circuits also
have a couple of other electrical propertiesinductance and
capacitance. These push the voltage and amperage out of
phase with each other, so that they peak at different times.
We call these circuits reactive, because some of the energy
is bounced back at the source in a delayed reaction, due to
the characteristics of inductors and capacitors. Reactive
loads include motors, fluorescent light ballasts, and many

electronic devices.
Power, the rate of energy flow, can be calculated by
multiplying voltage and amperage (electrical pressure and
charge flow rate). So theoretically, if your source voltage is 120
and your amperage is 10, you are generating energy at the rate
of 1,200 watts. (Well ignore the intricacies of rms, techies.)
In a reactive circuit, its not that simple, because the
voltage and amperage are not in phase. The second diagram
(below right) shows a circuit where the voltage and
amperage are not in phasethey peak at different times,
and the power actually goes negative for a portion of the
cycle (shaded area). With the same voltage and amperage
out of the generator, the actual power available to the load
will be less in this circuit.
The generating source has to produce the full amperage
in either case. But less power is available to the load when
voltage and amperage are out of phase. Some of the
charges are just moving energy back and forth
unnecessarily, and this creates an illusion of power, known
as reactive power.
We call the product of volts times amps in a reactive
circuit apparent power (also called volt-amps, and
abbreviated VA). We call the power that is usable to the
load true power (watts, abbreviated W). The ratio of
Resistive Load
(PF = 1.0, V & A In Phase)
Reactive Load
(PF = 0.8, V & A Out of Phase)
Derivation: From Latin posse, to be able,

and Latin factor, maker, doer.
Time
Time
Voltage
116
Power
Amperage
Voltage
Power
Amperage
word power
apparent power to true power is called power factor (PF).
A power factor of 1 is ideal. It is when the apparent and true
power are the same.
W VA = PF
If we take the same 120 volts and 10 amps from the
example above, but the load in the circuit has a power factor
of 0.8, the power available to the load will actually be only
960 watts.
The excess energy in reactive circuits is not lost. It just
sloshes around in the circuit, bouncing back to the source.
But since losses in a circuit are tied directly to the charge
flow rate (amperage), raising the amperage in a given size of
wire means that the losses will increase. So a circuit with
bad (low) power factor will need larger wires to keep the
losses at the same level as a circuit with good (high) power
factor.
On the physics side of things, I like to picture charges
bouncing back and forth in a reactive circuit. They dont do
the work they could because the driving force (voltage) is
out of synch with the charge flow. Watts measures the
energy flow from the generating source to the load. Voltamps measures the theoretical maximum energy flow,
including the illusory reactive energy that is bounced back
to the generating source.
The practical lessons are that high power factor devices
are always going to be easier on your generating sources
they will increase efficiency in your systems. And wire
sizing must take into account the full apparent power that
the load needs, even though some of it is recycled by the
circuit.
My thanks to Hugh Piggott for going above and beyond
the call in helping me with the technical end of this column.
He says, I have seen it compared to a glass of beer. The
amount of beer in the glass is the apparent power. The liquid
is real power. The froth is reactive power. Me? I dont drink
the stuff, so I wouldnt know
Access
Ian Woofenden, PO Box 1001, Anacortes, WA 98221
ian.woofenden@homepower.com
www.homepower.com
117
Gin Pole
Wind
Generator
Used In: All tilt-up and some guyed and freestanding wind generator
installations
Guy Wires:
Not all shown
AKA: Lever arm, lifting pole, falling derrick, davit

What It Is: A lever to raise a tilt-up tower or a temporary crane for a nontilt-up tower
Tower
Hoisting
Cable
What It Aint: A liquor survey

Pulley: At
guy anchor
Gin Pole
Up
Pivot: At
tower base
Direction
of Pull
Guy wires
not shown
Tower
Tower
Base
In reference to non-tilt-up towers, a gin pole is a temporary crane

that sticks up above the tower. It allows you to lift additional tower
sections and the wind generator without hiring an expensive crane.
Tower
Section
Generally, two brackets are clamped to a tower leg with bolts, and
provide a sleeve for the gin pole, which is pulled up through the brackets.
A davit or block is added on the top, and a lifting line is threaded through
before the pole top is raised out of reach.
Clamps
Hoisting
Cable
Pulley
In reference to tilt-up towers, the phrase refers to the lever

arm that is used to lift the tower off the ground. Usually it is a
steel pipe of the same diameter as the tubular tower pipe, and
can be as long as the guy wire radius.
A gin pole makes it easier to raise the tower. Try tilting up a pipe or
pole by pulling along the length of it and youll find that something may
break before anything lifts. Adding a lever at 90 degrees makes it easy to
lift the pipe.
Davit & Pulley
Gin Pole
The phrase gin pole is used to identify two very different

structures associated with wind generator towers.
Direction
of pull
The gin pole is then bolted securely in place before any lifting is done.
After each section is in place, the gin pole and brackets are moved up to
the next section. Temporary guy ropes are necessary to keep the tower
stable.
Ian Woofenden ian.woofenden@homepower.com
adopt a library!
When Karen and I were living with kerosene lamps, we went to our
local public library looking for a better way to light up our nights. We
found nothing about small-scale renewable energy. As a result, one of
the first things we did when we started publishing Home Power sixteen
years ago was to give a subscription to our local public library.
If youd like to do the same for your public library, well split the cost of
the subscription with you. Inside the U.S., you pay $11.25 and well pay
the rest. Outside the U.S., the same offer stands, so call us for rates.
Richard Perez, Publisher
Check with your local library before signing them up. Eligible libraries must be open to the general public.
PO Box 520, Ashland OR 97520 800-707-6585 541-512-0201 subscription@homepower.com www.homepower.com
118
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119
home & heart
The Worst at
Work
Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze
2004 Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze
Recently I read about the newest book in the Worst-Case

Scenario Survival series. It deals with problem scenarios in
the workplace. It tells you how to stay awake during
meetings, unstick a candy bar from a vending machine,
thwart a lunch thief, and the like. Hoo boy, thats nothing
like my RE powered, remote workplace.
Commuting
People who hear that I work from home always think that
makes for a cushy job. I will tell you that it is a double-edged
blade. Sure, I dont have the commute. This makes me wonder
which would be worsecommuting over dirt roads, skinny
country roads, mountain passes, and freeways, or in-town
driving? Of course winter conditions always make mountain
driving worse. Thats the kind of commute I would have. But
maybe the incredibly snarled traffic problems I see on the
morning news would be worse. Yikes!
We live in a county that has twice as many cows as
people. (This has been documented.) The whole county is
open range, meaning that livestock can be found wandering
anywhere, including in the roadway.
Yreka, our county seat, used to have only one stoplight.
The arrival of Wal-Mart spawned another stoplight. Instead
of turning it on immediately, the county covered the light
with feed sacks for about four weeks. For the next step of
integration, they turned the light to flashing yellow for
another three weeks. Finally, they brought the stoplight up
to speed and all three colors are working now. You have to
ease country folk into change, you know.
Whenever I go to a bigger city (anything over 35,000
population), it seems there are stoplights on every corner.
And you never see a herd of cows being driven down
Main Street.
Home Alone
People who travel to a workplace dont realize on a
conscious level that when you work at home, you never
leave home. Say you have a job away from home. You leave
a clean house, and eight or nine or ten hours later, you
return. Your house is still clean.
When I work at home, my house gets lived and worked
in 24/7. To cope, we have what we call our piling system.
Any and all things tend to get piled, waiting for me to return
120
to that task because Ive been called away to another task.

This goes for both business and home-related tasks.
On weekends, I am still at work. I cant go home; Im
already there. The same piles are looking at me, waiting to
be dealt with. Sure, I can get a few household chores done
during the workweek between phone calls, shipping, and
computing. But, I have to be ready to be interrupted at any
moment. I usually wear an apron with a dishtowel attached.
Then when one of the phones rings, I can dry my hands as I
hurry to answer it. I can only vacuum after or before
business hours because I cant hear the phone.
Basically, I cannot be more than three rings away from the
phones or customers can become perturbed. When I am
outside doing chores, I have a snap-on tool belt. It carries a
wireless phone, notebook, pen, and a pair of garden clippers.
The wireless gets lousy reception when I am all the way out at
the chicken coop. That is not the worst of it though.
Worst-Case Scenario #1
About a year ago, I was home alone sitting at my desk. I
could hear the wind in the trees outside. Automatically, I
glanced out the window toward the Whisper 1000 wind
turbine spinning atop a 60 foot (18 m) tilt-up tower. I felt
that zing of fear when I saw that a top guy cable had come
loose, and the turbine was swaying and bending the tower
more than I thought possible. Grabbing a pair of leather
gloves, I ran out the door towards the pole. My brain kept
saying that it was going to snap at any minute. How can it
bend that far and not break?
I reached the base of the tower and found the loose end
of the guy cable. It was an upper guy that vibration had
twisted out of its turnbuckle. I grabbed it and ran to the
anchor and turnbuckle. Immediately I realized that I was in
no way strong enough to pull the cable and start its
threaded bolt end back into the turnbuckle. The wind
generator is a vital part of our RE system that keeps our
home and office running. What would I do?
Solution
I ran to the shop and scrambled around until I found a
cable clamp lying on the vise bench. I kept looking around
until I found a crescent wrench. Running back to the tower,
I could see it still waving and flailing wildly in the wind. I
home & heart

never stopped to think about how dangerous the situation
could be. At the least, I should have thrown the stop switch
on the turbine, and been more careful and methodical while
all this was going on. But my life usually is a cautionary tale.
I grabbed the loose guy cable and brought it as close to
the turnbuckle as I could. I slipped the U-bolt of the clamp
over that cable and the bottom guy cable attached to the
same anchor. I slid the saddle onto the U-bolt, threaded on
the two nuts, and tightened them with the crescent wrench.
That stopped the immediate threat of losing the wind
turbine and tower. It still swayed back and forth, but not in
such a large frightening arc.
I ran back to the house and called our neighbor, Stan.
Breathlessly, I told him what happened and finished with a
forced casual, When you have a minute, could you come
help me reattach the guy cable?
Stan responded, Ill be there in two minutes.
When Stan arrived, I returned to the tower and its
slackened guy cable. A come-along would have been a really
good tool to have for this job, but we didnt have one. I
didnt think to clamp on a temporary safety cable so we
wouldnt be holding the cable only by hand again. We
loosened the cable clamp. Both wearing leather gloves, we
pulled the cable over to the turnbuckle. Stan dug his feet in
and held it there while I tried to start the cable bolt into the
threads of the turnbuckle. After several tries, I ran to the
shop and got a can of WD-40 while Stan held the cable. After
spraying the cable bolt and turnbuckle, it took a few more
tries to get the bolt started into the threads.
Once it held, I used the crescent wrench in the center
hole of the turnbuckle to tighten the cable. I later found out
that this is not the correct method to tighten a turnbuckle. It
should be tightened at the ends, not the middle. At the time,
it seemed like the easiest way for me to quickly get it safe
enough for Stan to let go of the cable.
I threaded a small length of baling wire through the
upper and lower guy turnbuckles at the anchor to prevent
any reoccurrence. We checked the other turnbuckles for
loosening, and applied preventative baling wire. Disaster
was averted. Since I was at work, I had to go back to the
house/office and check the phone message machine and
return all of the calls that came while I was occupied with
saving our wind turbine and tower.
When Bob-O returned home, he used some lengths of
cable in figure eight patterns (instead of the baling wire) to
secure all the turnbucklesbetter late than never! This was
the first (and only) tower that Bob-O ever made himself. In
a classic case of the shoemakers children going barefoot, he
had not found the time to complete all the details of
securing our toweruntil this happened.
The tower is down again at the moment, but
intentionally as we wait for some free time to replace the old
turbine with a Whisper H80. We will be adding another full
set of well-secured guy cables and anchors. Lesson learned.
surprise, he saw a mountain lion taking down a deer on

the road, across the creek, thirty feet away. He told the
customer, Something is happening outside. I have to go.
Ill call you back.
I grabbed my 110 pound (50 kg) Airedale dog and locked
her in the bedroom. (First disaster averted.) I looked out the
window again. There was quite a struggle happening. BobO grabbed a gun, hoping to shoot into the air and stop the
cougars attack. He started in the direction of the struggle.
I was watching the writhing animals and realized that it
was not a mountain lion killing a deer. It was two mountain
lions fighting. There was snarling, growling, and flying fur.
Then both cats were lying in a still tangle in the morning sun
on the dirt road. As we watched, their tails started
twitching. With several growls, they jumped up. One ran up
the road and the other took off directly up the side hill.
Solution
We had already performed the solution. We didnt go
near the fighting cats, and I put my terrier in a safe place.
Next I called the neighbors up the road and warned them to
not let their small children play outside alone, if at all. When
Bob-O went across the road to check the area where the
battle took place, he found many tufts of golden fur and a
bloody claw torn off and lying in the dirt. When he got back
to the house, he called the client, apologized for the
interruption, and continued their conversation.
I know these are not typical workplace scenarios. But I
have found that when you live remotely with renewable
energy, you need to be able to land on your feet, laughing.
Expect anything; it just might happen. Now if I could only
talk Bob-O into a candy bar vending machine for our
office/dining room.
Access
Kathleen Jarschke-Schultze is fermenting an unassuming
little Pinot Bob-O from her micro-vineyard at Chateau
Schultze in Northernmost California. c/o Home Power, PO
Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520
kathleen.jarschke-schultze@homepower.com
User Friendly Hydro Power
Alternative Power & Machine

4040 Highland Ave. Unit #H Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-476-8916
altpower@grantspass.com
Worst-Case Scenario #2
A couple of years ago, Bob-O was on the phone with a
customer when he glanced out the window. To his great
www.homepower.com
www.apmhydro.com
121
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Do It Yourself
BZ Products Model MPPT500

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Boost charge current up to 30%

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Selectable 12, 24 or 48 volt output
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www.homepower.com
123
RE happenings
INTERNATIONAL
COSTA RICA
U.S.A.
Free instructions, photos, drawings, & specs to

build solar cookers & water systems with local
materials, purchased with local currency.
Sunstove www.sungravity.com
Feb. 16-21, 04; RE for the Developing WorldHands On, Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica. Solar
electricity, hot water, cooking, & other RE
technologies. Info: see SEI in COLORADO
listings. Coordinator: Ian Woofenden
360-293-7448
Videos: Incl. Solar Dry Composting Toilets,

Solar Hot Water Systems, PV, Solar Space
Heating, Solar-Powered Automobiles, Quilted
Insulated Window Shades, & more. Broadcastquality tapes available. Appalachia: Science in
the Public Interest, 50 Lair St., Mt. Vernon, KY
40456 606-256-0077 aspi@a-spi.org
www.a-spi.org
El Paso Solar Energy Assoc. bilingual Web site.

Info en Espaol on energy & energy saving.
Free download of PV Systems book
www.epsea.org/esp
Green Empowerment promotes communitybased RE projects internationally. Info:
www.greenempowerment.org
Solar On-Line (SL) Internet courses. Yearround. PV Technology & Opportunities: A
Qualitative Overview; PV Systems Design:
Basic Course; PV Systems Design: Professional
Course; Hands-On PV System Installation;
Solar Homes; Healthy Buildings; & Solar
Energy for International Development. SL, PO
Box 217, Carbondale, CO 81623 720-489-3798
info@solenergy.org www.solenergy.org
Solar Energy International online courses: PV
Design, & Solar Home Design. Info: see SEI in
COLORADO listings.
AUSTRIA
Mar. 3-5 04; World Sustainable Energy Days;
Wels, Austria. European Green Electricity
Forum, Megatrends of Sustainable Energy, &
an exhibition fair. Info: O..
Energiesparverband, Landstrae 45, A-4020
Linz, Austria +43-732-7720-14380
+43-732-7720-14383 office@esv.or.at
www.esv.or.at
CANADA
Alberta Sustainable Home/Office, Calgary.
Open house last Sat. every month 1-4 pm,
private tours available. Cold-climate features,
environment, conservation, RE, recycling,
efficiency, self-sufficiency, appropriate
technology, autonomous & sustainable
housing & communities. 9211 Scurfield Dr.
NW, Calgary, AB T3L 1V9 403-239-1882
jdo@ecobuildings.net www.ecobuildings.net
www.ecodeveloper.com
Vancouver EV Assoc. meeting info: PO Box
3456, 349 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6B
3Y4 604-878-9500 info@veva.bc.ca
www.veva.bc.ca
CHINA
Apr. 7-9, 04; REAsia 2004, Beijing. Marketing
RE in Asia. Info: Vivian Li, Grace Fair Intl. Ltd.
Room 1311, Tower A, Zhongyun Bldg.,
Wangjing New Industrial Zone, Chaoyang Dist.,
Beijing 100102, China ++86-10-64390338 Fax:
++86-10-64390339 vivian@gracefair.com
www.gracefair.com
124
GERMANY
Mar. 5-7, 04; Erneuerbare Energien 2004;
Bblingen, Germany. Conferences &
workshops on RE market situations. Info: see
RENEXPO entry below.
May 11-14, 04; Wind Energy Intl. Trade Fair;
Hamburg Fair Site. Info: Hamburg Messe und
Congress GmbH, PO Box 30 24 80, 20308
Hamburg, Germany +49 40 3569 2123
info@windenergy-hamburg.de
www.windenergy-hamburg.de
Oct. 21-24, 04; RENEXPO 2004; Augsburg.
Hydro power, decentralization, biofuels, solar,
biogas, energy-efficient construction. Info:
Erneuerbare Energien Kommunikations und
Information Service GmbH, Unter den Linden
15 72762 Reutlingen, Germany +49 (0)71 2130 16-0 Fax: +49 (0)71 21 - 30 16 -100
redaktion@energie-server.de www.energyserver.com
MEXICO
Mar. 2-9, 04; Build a Solar Culture Where the
Sun Shines; Akumal, Mexico. A hands-on
workshop in solar theory & installation. Info:
RENEW Wisconsin, 222 S. Hamilton St.,
Madison, WI 53703 608-819-0748
www.renewwisconsin.org
POLAND
Mar. 23-25, 04; ENEX New Energy; Kielce,
Poland. Fair specific to RE, in conjunction with
the ENEX Power Industry Fair. Info: Targi
Kielce, ul. Zakladowa 1, 25-672 +4841/365 12
12 Fax: +4841/345 62 61 enex@targikielce.pl
www.targikielce.pl/enex_start/enex.htm
SPAIN
May 16-19, 04; SCELL-2004: Intl. Conf. on the
Physics, Chemistry, & Engineering of Solar
Cells; Badajoz, Spain. Research results on
materials science & technology related to solar
energy conversion. Info: Formatex Research
Center Fax: +34/924/258-615
scell-2004@formatex.org
www.formatex.org/scell2004/scell2004.htm
American Wind Energy Assoc. Info about U.S.

wind industry, membership, small turbine use,
& more. www.awea.org
Info on state & federal incentives for RE. North
Carolina Solar Center, Box 7401 NCSU,
Raleigh, NC 27695 919-515-3480
www.dsireusa.org
Energy Efficiency & RE Clearinghouse Fact
Sheets: Insulation Basics, Financing an Energy
Efficient or RE Home, PV: Basic Design
Principles & Components, Cooling Your Home
Naturally, Small Wind Energy Systems for the
Homeowner, & more. www.eere.energy.gov/con
sumerinfo/factsheet.html
Ask an Energy Expert: online or phone
questions to specialists. Energy Efficiency & RE
Network (EREN) 800-363-3732
www.eere.energy.gov
Stand-Alone PV Systems Web site: design
practices, PV safety, technical briefs, battery &
inverter testing. Sandia Labs
www.sandia.gov/pv
Federal Trade Commission free pamphlets:
Buying an Energy-Smart Appliance, Energy
Guide to Major Home Appliances, & Energy
Guide to Home Heating & Cooling. Energy
Guide 202-326-2222 TTY: 202-326-2502
www.ftc.gov
Solar curriculum for schools. 6 week science
curriculum or individual sessions. Free! 30
classroom presentations & demos. Florida
Solar Energy Center 321-638-1017
www.fsec.ucf.edu/Ed/sw
ARIZONA
Feb. 23-28, 04; PV Design & Installation,
Tucson. System design, components, site
analysis, system sizing, & a hands-on
installation. Info: see SEI in Colorado listings.
Tax credits for solar in AZ. ARI SEIA 602-2583422 www.azsolarindustry.org
Scottsdale, AZ. Living with the Sun; free
energy lectures, 3rd Thurs. each month, 7-9
PM, City of Scottsdale Urban Design Studio.
Dan Aiello 602-952-8192; or AZ Solar Center
www.azsolarcenter.org
RE happenings
CALIFORNIA
Mar. 1-3, 04; AEST 2004, Alternate Energy
Sources & Technology; Marina del Rey, CA. For
researchers & practitioners, on recent
advances in RE. Info: IASTED, 4500 16th Ave.
NW #80, Calgary, AB Canada T3B 0M6
403-288-1195 Fax: 403-247-6851
calgary@iasted.org www.iasted.org
Mar. 8-13, 04; Womens PV Design &
Installation, Santa Cruz, CA. System design,
components, site analysis, system sizing, &
hands-on installation. Info: see SEI in Colorado
listings.
Mar. 12, 04; Intro to RE. Solar, wind, &
microhydro for homeowners. Info: see SEI in
Colorado listings.
Mar. 15-20, 04; PV & Installation, San
Francisco. System design, components, site
analysis, system sizing, & a hands-on
Apr. 8-10, 04; Understanding Grid-Connected
Solar Electric Systems. Humboldt State Univ.,
Arcata, CA. For homes or businesses. Info:
HSU Office of Extended Education
707-826-3731
Apr. 16-17, 04; Utility Interactive PV workshop
San Diego. System design, components, site
analysis, & system sizing. Info: see SEI in
Colorado listings.
Apr. 27-30, 04; Hydrogen: A Clean Energy
Choice; Los Angeles. National Hydrogen Assoc.
conference & expo. Info: NHA,1800 M St. NW
#300, Washington, DC 20036 202-223-5547
Fax: 202-223-5537
HydrogenConference@ttcorp.com
www.hydrogenconference.org
Arcata, CA. Campus Center for Appropriate
Technology, Humboldt State Univ. Workshops
& presentations on renewable & sustainable
living. CCAT, HSU, Arcata, CA 95521
707-826-3551 ccat@axe.humboldt.edu
www.humboldt.edu/~ccat
Rebates for PV & wind. CA Emerging
Renewables Buydown Program, CA Energy
Comm. 800-555-7794 or 916-654-4058
renewable@energy.state.ca.us
www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate
Energy Efficiency Building Standards for CA.
CA Energy Comm. 800-772-3300
www.energy.ca.gov/title24
Solar e-Clips, free weekly e-mail newsletter. CA
solar energy news & info. Subscribe:
www.californiasolarcenter.org
COLORADO
May 21-22, 04; PV Systems Design & the NEC.

Learn to design code-compliant PV systems.
Info: see SL Energy in International listings.
Carbondale, CO. SEI hands-on workshops &
online distance courses. PV Design &
Installation, Advanced PV, Solar Water
Pumping, Wind Power, Micro-hydro, Solar Hot
Water, Biodiesel, Alternative Fuels, Solar Home
& Natural House Building, Straw Bale
Construction, RE for the Developing World,
Utility Interactive PV, Womens PV Design &
Installation, Womens Wind Power, Womens
Carpentry, PV Distance course, & Solar Home
Design distance course. Solar Energy
International (SEI), PO Box 715, Carbondale,
CO 81623 970-963-8855 sei@solarenergy.org
www.solarenergy.org
MISSOURI
Feb. 8, 04; Winter RE Fair; New Bloomfield,
MO. Wind generators, PV systems, SDHW,
passive solar, hydro power, green building,
biodiesel, solar carts, & more. Free. Info:
Missouri RE Center 800-228-5284
www.moreenergy.org
MONTANA
Whitehall, MT. Sage Mountain Center:
sustainable living tours, seminars, workshops,
PV, green building, more. SMC, 79 Sage
Mountain Trail, Whitehall, MT 59759
406-494-9875 cborton@sagemountain.org
www.sagemountain.org
NEW JERSEY
IOWA
Prairiewoods & Cedar Rapids, IA. Iowa RE
Assoc. meets 2nd Sat. every month at 9 AM.
Call for changes. IRENEW, PO Box 355,
Muscatine, IA 52761 563-288-2552
irenew@irenew.org www.irenew.org
KENTUCKY
Mt. Vernon, KY. Appalachia: Science in the
Public Interest. Projects & demos in solar
electricity, solar hot water, gardening,
sustainable forestry, more. ASPI, 50 Lair St.,
Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 606-256-0077
solar@a-spi.org www.a-spi.org
MASSACHUSETTS
Apr. 17-18 & 24-25, 04; Grid-Connected Solar

Electric Systems. For the home or small
business. Info: see SEI in Colorado listings.
NEW MEXICO
Apr. 04; Natural House Building, Kingston,
NM. Learn how to build with earth & straw.
Hands-on sessions including straw bale,
adobe, pressed block, cob, & natural plasters.
Info: see SEI in Colorado listings.
NEW YORK
Apr. 12-17, 04; PV Design & Installation,
Woodstock, NY. System design, components,
site analysis, system sizing, & a hands-on
Mar. 10-13, 04; NESEA Building Energy

Conference; Boston Univ., Boston. Professional
conference & trade show on high performance
green building & RE. Info: NESEA,
www.nesea.org/buildings/be
RE Loan fund: low interest financing: NY

Energy $mart Program, NY State Energy R&D
Authority 518-862-1090 ext. 3315
rgw@nyserda.org www.nyserda.org
Greenfield Energy Park. Ongoing energy

demos & exhibits. NESEA, 50 Miles St.,
Greenfield, MA 01301 413-774-6051
nhazard@nesea.org www.nesea.org/park
NORTH CAROLINA
MICHIGAN
Urban Enviro Discussion, Ferndale, MI. 2nd
Wed. each month, 7-9 pm. Sustainability,
energy efficiency & conservation, RE, green
building, & consumer issues. Potluck. Free. The
GreenHouse, 22757 Woodward #210, Ferndale,
MI 48220 313-218-1628
www.hometown.aol.com/ecadvocate
Intro to Solar, Wind, & Hydro. West Branch, MI.
1st Fri. each month. System design & layout
for homes or cabins. Info: 989-685-3527
gotter@m33access.com
May 14-15, 04; Solar Home Design for NetZero Energy. PV, solar thermal, passive solar
for Net-Zero energy home in any climate.
Info: see SL Energy in International listings.
www.homepower.com
Saxapahaw, NC. How to Get Your SolarPowered Home. Call for dates. Solar Village
Institute PO Box 14, Saxapahaw, NC 27340
336-376-9530 info@solarvillage.com
www.solarvillage.com
OREGON
May 14-16, 04; Living Better in the NW,
Sustainable Solutions for the Rogue Valley;
Jackson County Fair Grounds, OR. RE,
transportation, organic farming, community
design, science of sustainability, sustainable
home building, & resource mngmt. Info:
Tristan Ragsdale, ECOS, Southern OR Univ.
541-552-8512 ragsdalet@students.sou.edu
Jul. 10-14, 04; SOLAR 2004; Portland.
American Solar Energy Society national
conference. Info: ASES 303-443-3130 ext.103
www.ases.org bchowe@ases.org
125
RE happenings
Cottage Grove, OR. Adv. Studies in Appropriate
Tech., 10 weeks, 14 interns per quarter.
Aprovecho Research Center, 80574 Haxelton
Rd., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-0302
apro@efn.org www.efn.org/~apro
TEXAS
WASHINGTON STATE
Mar. 22-27, 04; PV Design & Installation,

Austin, TX. System design, components, site
analysis, system sizing, & hands-on
Apr. 8-10, 04; Grid-Tied PV Design & Install

workshop, Guemes Island, WA. System design,
components, site analysis, system sizing, &
hands-on installation. Info: see SEI in
COLORADO listings. Local coordinator: Ian
Woofenden 360-293-7448
El Paso Solar Energy Assoc. meets 1st Thurs.

each month. EPSEA, PO Box 26384, El Paso, TX
79926 915-772-7657 epsea@txses.org
www.epsea.org
PENNSYLVANIA
Penn. Solar Energy Assoc. meeting info: PO
Box 42400, Philadelphia, PA 19101
610-667-0412 rose-bryant@erols.com
Houston RE Group: e-mail for meeting times:

HREG hreg@txses.org www.txses.org/hreg
PV grants for Penn. available through the

Sustainable Development Fund
sdf@trfund.com www.trfund.com/sdf
UTAH
Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs Partnership

215-988-0929 ext. 242 www.phillysolar.org
Apr. 12-17, 04; PV Design & Installation, Salt

Lake City, UT. System design, components, site
analysis, system sizing, & hands-on
RHODE ISLAND
Peoples Power & Light: buyers groups for
green electricity & bio heating oil. Also info &
programs to promote sustainable energy. Info:
401-861-6111 info@ripower.org
www.ripower.org
VERMONT
Feb. 7-8 04; Designing Solar Energy Systems
Workshop; Warren, VT. Basics of designing &
installing PV & SDHW systems. Info:
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, 189 VT Rt.
100, Warren, VT 05674 802-496-5545
888-496-5541 kate@yestermorrow.org
www.yestermorrow.org
Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living.

Ongoing workshops & demos on sustainable
living. Apeiron Inst., 451 Hammet Rd.,
Conventry, RI 02816 401-397-3430
info@apeiron.org www.apeiron.org
VIRGINIA
Info & services on practical solar energy apps
in VA. VA Solar Energy Assoc., the VA Solar
Council, & the VA SEIA. Info: VA Div. of Energy
804-692-3218
TENNESSEE
Apr. 21-24, 04; Solar Electric Design, Earth
Advocates Research Farm (The Farm). Basic
PV, hardware, system design, installation, &
troubleshooting. Info: Ed Eaton, Our Sun Solar,
PO Box 1876, Paonia, CO 81428 970-948-5304
hareef99@yahoo.com
Apr. 12-17, 04; Homebuilt Wind Generators

workshop with Hugh Piggott, Guemes Island,
WA. Learn to build wind generators from
scratch; blade carving, winding alternators,
assembly, & testing. Info: see SEI in
COLORADO listings. Local coordinator: Ian
Woofenden 360-293-7448
Apr. 18, 04; Intro to Renewable Energy
workshop, Guemes Island, WA. Solar, wind, &
microhydro for homeowners. Lectures and
tours. Info: see SEI in COLORADO listings.
Local coordinator: Ian Woofenden 360-2937448 ian.woofenden@homepower.com
WISCONSIN
MREA workshops. Mar. 6, Custer: Energy
Efficient Construction; Mar. 13, Custer: Intro to
RE; Mar. 27-28, Custer: Basic PV. Also,
Alternative Constuction, Intermediate PV, Solar
Domestic Hot Water, & Solar Space Heating.
Info: MREA, 7558 Deer Rd., Custer, WI 54423
715-592-6595 mreainfo@wi-net.com
www.the-mrea.org
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Errata
After printing the HP98 article, Using DC in Your Off-Grid
Home, we discovered that an error had been introduced during
the publishing process. In the test data table on page 95, the
efficiency figure for Solar Converters EQ12/24-20 should have
been 93.8%, and the output volts should have been 12.5. We
regret any inconvenience this may have caused our readers, and
any misrepresentation of the fine products of Solar Converters,
Inc. While we were too late to stop the presses for the printed
version of our magazine, we were able to make the appropriate
changes in the electronic edition of HP98. Michael Welch, for the
Home Power editorial staff.
Down about New Downloading System

Dear Home Power, Why exactly have you started asking
for all sorts of information from people in order to
download your online publication? I suspect I will start to
get lots of crap in my e-mail, answering machine, and
mailbox. For quite some time I have looked forward to the
new HP coming outit was one of the few good deals left on
the Web. The information you provide is invaluable, and it
leads a lot of people to step beyond a dream and into the
reality of making their own energy from renewables. A great
many people wont even bother anymore if a site requires
registration to get in, and it is almost always an invitation to
start getting spammed and worse. By taking the actions you
did, you have closed the door to a lot of potential renewable
energy users who will simply write you off as a loss because
they cant get in without jumping through hoops to do so.
I can see no legitimate reason for you to ask for the
information unless you intend to sell it. I am very
disappointed to see you take this step, and hope you will
reconsider and keep your publication open to everyone,
even those who dont wish to identify themselves to you.
Over the past year as a user of solar energy, several
neighbors have asked me about the technology, and I have
pointed them to your site to learn more. Now I cannot do
that because I will not recommend that others do something
I am loath to do myself. Your actions represent to me the loss
of a great information resource. Craig Garrett
Hi Craig. Thanks for writing in. We have given away our
online edition for many years, and are continuing to do that. For
all of that time, we have not been able to receive proper credit for
that extra circulation. We need to have those issue downloads
become auditable, so that our advertisers will have an accurate and
verifiable understanding of our circulation. Though our current
advertisers understand the value of our large online readership,
its hard to use it as a selling point for new advertisers without
having hard numbers.
We have always wanted to count this circulation, but until
recently the companies that audit magazine circulation have not
offered this option. Our new download system will allow them to
verify the downloads, and count you and other beneficiaries of our
free current electronic edition policy. The info we ask for is not for
sale, as you suspect, but rather is for confidential circulation
128
auditing. We, as an organization, are adamant about not doing

e-mail, phone, or snail mail spamming, and we never will unless
the person specifically tells us they want it.
There is an optional questionnaire that asks about
demographics and your RE system when you download our free
current issue. We use that info to identify trends in the RE
industry so that we may become a better magazine and RE
advocate. I hope that answers your questions.
We still have a large selection of free RE articles and files on
our Web site, with no registration required to download them.
Weve also started offering all of our back issues electronically for
download for a fee. This will give readers access to information
otherwise only available on our CD-ROMs and in the issues that
are still in print. Our goal is also to spread renewable energy to as
many people as possible, and we think these new changes to our
Web site are a step in the right direction. Michael Welch
Lightning Grounding
I have a Whisper 900 and a 95 foot, three-legged, selfsupporting tower waiting to be installed to supplement my
900 watt photovoltaic array. I have one concernlightning.
Three wind generators in my area have been struck. The
damage is substantial every time.
Ive heard two explanations for the benefits of
grounding the tower structure with respect to protection.
One is that grounding will actually make the structure
nonattractive to lightning. The other explanation is
exactly the reverse, that the grounding system is actually
catering to the lightning by providing the current a direct
and controlled path to ground, and thus protecting valuable
electric components and living structures from high voltage
harm.
Which is the answer? The second explanation seems
more plausible, but I have little knowledge of electrical
behavior. If it is so, the prospect of 100 percent protection
seems unattainable. Wouldnt it be necessary to have a
lightning rod that extended higher than the generator
blades? And wouldnt you have to anticipate the worst and
use copper conductors of incredible thickness? Enlighten
me, please! Jack Eastman, Fairfield, Iowa
jacktoni@kdsi.net
Hi Jack, Lightning protection is 30 percent applied physics, 30
percent luck (karma), 30 percent voodoo, and the disposition of the
remaining 10 percent is unknown. There is no sure bet here.
From a physics standpoint, grounding metal structures bleeds
off static charges that may accumulate during electrical storms.
This places the metal object (tower, PV racks, or radio antennas)
at the same potential as the ground. This reduces the likelihood of
a direct strike. Lightning is just like any electricity, just incredibly
intense, powerful, and quick. A lightning bolt looks for the path of
least resistance to ground. If static charges build up on metal
structures, they are at higher potential than the ground and
attract lightning because they present an easier path of less
potential difference.
HP letters
From a physics standpoint, if an outside structure takes a
direct lightning strike, the grounding conductors may or may not
make a path for this strike to go to ground. Considering the
amount of energy carried by a lightning bolt, the grounding
conductor, all its connections, and grounding rod or plane must be
capable of conducting tens of thousands of amperes in a
microsecond. Were talking copper conductors as big around as
your arm... Thinking that a #8 copper wire and a 6 foot ground rod
is going to do this job is a fantasy. If gear gets a direct strike, there
is sure to be damage.
I spent three years operating a commercial, 100 KW TV
transmitter on top of 7,500 foot tall Mount Ashland. On top of
this mountain, we had a 260 foot tall metal transmitting tower.
This tower was protected by multiple grounds with cables over 4
inches thick feeding six huge ground rods. The electronics were
guarded by every known form of isolation and protectioncost
was no object. During lightning season, wed sometimes take up
to six direct hits daily. We always lost some of the electronic gear
inside the transmitter building. Ive removed electronics with a
hacksaw when they welded themselves to steel racks and conduits.
Ive watched blue fire coursing across the racks of delicate
electronics while I sat on a wooden stool in the middle of the room
too petrified to even consider moving or touching anything.
From a karma and voodoo standpoint, I recommend thinking
good thoughts and burning copious quantities of Nepali temple
incense under wind generator towers and PV racks. And avoid
listening to the Grateful Deads Fire on the Mountain during
electrical storms. Richard Perez richard.perez@homepower.com
Excess PV Heat
Im in the Orlando, Florida, area and Im considering a
grid-tied PV system to help reduce my utility bill. I can see
a panel on my roof easily getting over 140F on a sunny day
here. If youve ever been to the central Florida area, one
attribute of homes around here is that many have pools.
Many of those homeowners with pools have installed solar
water heating collectors to heat the pools and thereby
extend their useful seasons in our area. A pool, in this case,
represents a fairly large source of 85F water. I would love to
know if theres anyone out there using pool flow to cool
their PV arrays and heat their pool. If I could drop the
temperature of the cell by 10 or 20F, what would I gain in
conversion efficiency? Bill Bragg Bill@searssiding.com
Hi Bill, Ive never heard of anybody trying to heat a pool with
the excess heat coming off PV modules. There have been a couple
of designs in R & D incorporating air collectors on the back of PV
modules for space heating. None of these made it to
commercialization. Heating a pool normally requires about half
the pool surface area in collector surface area (collectors made for
the job), which is normally a good deal larger than a home PV
array. The quick answer is, yes you can cool the modules with air
or water and improve the output and gather the wasted heat; no,
people dont do it on any regular basis because of the cost-tobenefit ratio. Too little heat is gathered and too little efficiency is
gained to make the expenditure worthwhile, so far. The industry
needs a new product or a good inexpensive way to modify modules
to make the idea reality. Cheers, Chuck Marken
chuck@aaasolar.com
Places to Start
I was just watching a show on Tech TV, where you were
discussing your efforts with home power development. Im
all for it! But my technical skills are measured in negative
values... I was wondering how easy or difficult it would be
for me to find somebody with the expertise and ability to tell
me what I can do to make my home less dependant on the
grid. I live in Montreal, Quebec, pretty close to downtown,
in fact. My roof is available and Ive got a backyard. Didier
research@thoughttechnology.com
Hello Didier, There are some great nontechnical ways to get
started, and in fact these are the best places for everyone, even the
technically minded, to get started. If you have a family, institute a
reward-based system for your family members to encourage energy
conservation. You can do things like getting them to turn off the
lights when leaving rooms, and doing only full loads of laundry with
just cold water. Turn down your water heater so that it doesnt
produce scalding water that needs to be mixed with lots of cold just
to use. Try line drying laundry instead of running it through the
dryer; it even works well to hang laundry inside the home when the
weather is poor. Just spend a weekend going around the house,
looking for ways to conserve and implement conservation.
Then, get more energy efficient appliances. A big one is to
swap out your incandescent lightbulbs for high quality compact
fluorescent bulbs. Other big energy hogs are the washing machine,
water heater, and refrigerator, which should be replaced with as
energy-efficient models as you can find.
Next come the parts that most folks cant do themselves. Get a
solar hot water system. These usually also make economic sense,
with paybacks as short as four years. Have someone come out and
look at your home for a possible solar or wind-electric system. This
is the most expensive thing you can do, especially if you dont take
care of the conservation and efficiency things first. You can
research dealers in your area from our Web site. Michael Welch
Pole Mount for SDHW System?

I am considering installing a drainback solar water
heating system, but am concerned about mounting the
panels on the roof. We have a single peak, two-plane roof
with the peak running north-south. It is relatively steep
(8/12), with a standing seam metal roof over plywood. It is
a tall, two-story house, with the gutters at about 21 feet off
the ground. The south wall of the house faces another tall
house across a 12 foot space, so putting the panels on the
ground is out. Is it reasonable to do a tall pole mount system
bracketed to the north side of the house that would support
the panels (two 4 by 8 foot) above the roof peak? Or should
I do a compound angle steel framework bolted into the
trusses through the roof? Also, we have a lot of storm wind
exposure. We are on the top of a hill in Seattle.
I am thinking of making my own drainback tank out of
2 to 3 inch copper pipe, rather than spending several
hundred dollars on a tank. Have you seen any simple
designs for the competent DIYer? The drainback tank would
be located in a closet on the second floor, just below the attic,
and the pipes would run up through the attic. The main
water tank and storage tank are in the basement. Any
www.homepower.com
129
HP letters
suggestions? Thanks for your help. Brian Clark
bclark1111@worldnet.att.net
Hi Brian, A high pole mount for heating collectors is
uncharted ground for us. Weight, wind load, and piping will all
have some bearing on this. Three or four poles making a kind of
trestle attached to the house is a possibility. We have done this
before, but never as high as 20 feet plus. I would suggest a roof
mount, even though it might be hard to do. I realize that an 8 in
12 metal roof will need some bracing to allow you to work on the
roof, and the way the pitch runs is also a factor. Is it out of the
question to mount the collectors high on the south gable?
A drainback tank is a project for a savvy do-it-yourselfer, but
3 inch pipe is probably not suitable. You should have a minimum
of 2 gallons per collector, and 3 inch pipe will have a capacity of
one gallon per 2.75 lineal feet, or 5.5 feet per collector. I have never
seen a DB tank less than about 6 inches in diameter (1.5 gallons
per lineal foot). Most are about 12 inches or so in diameter. Hope
this helps. Chuck Marken chuck@aaasolar.com
More Small System Articles
Each section of Jay Storers PV array

takes several people to lift and adjust.
I enjoy most of your magazine, especially system

descriptions used by people who share the reasons for their
designs. Articles like Richard Perezs description on making
battery cables have proved to be extremely helpful. I would
like to see more examples of integrated home
technologiescomplete off-grid mechanical integration. In
fact, I am surprised at the lack of articles on complete smallscale, self-sufficient homes. Most of what I recall is
expensive systems for large homes that are not providing all
their energy needs. For myself, I think sustainability in
energy is about conservation and integration of systems.
tulagaq@sasktel.net
Greetings, Home Powers articles are written by our readers.
We love publishing articles on smaller, super-efficient homes and
systems. Look for an excellent article on a small system in New
Mexico in an upcoming issue. And please send us your article
submissions! See the HP Web site for our article submission
guidelines. Ian Woofenden ian.woofenden@homepower.com
Hi Jay, We really havent covered that problem before, but I

have been aware of it ever since the first time I put together a large,
temporary array on the ground, and then tried to tilt it up into the
sun. I discovered that I, like you, needed four more people.
In looking at your array, I can suggest a possible solution,
though it is going to cost you a bit up front. I would divide the
array into smaller groups that you can handle more easily. Then
you might even be able to do it by yourself, or with just one other
person.
But if you really want to be able to mechanically change the tilt
angle, I would not recommend hydraulics or pneumatics. Use
screw-type actuators, similar to what is on trackers or dish
antennas. They are available in various sizes. Just make sure that
the ones you get have the right throw (length from totally closed to
fully extended) and can handle the amount of wind and lift load
your array presents. But that is going to be an expensive project,
so maybe dividing the array up into smaller groups is the way to
go. Let us know what you come up with. Michael Welch
Tilting Large Arrays
Greenhouse Heating
Good folks, Im a long-time reader, and have built a nice

off-grid home using information gleaned from HP. After
three years with my used panels and used batteries, Ive
very little to complain about except when I have to adjust
my array for seasonal sun angle changes. I have sixty panels
mounted in four groups of fifteen. The groups are hinged at
one end of my ground frame, and the opposite ends are
supported by steel tubing, as you can see in the photo.
When I change angles, I have to use three extra people to
hold the sections up while I quickly switch to the longer or
shorter support tubes. I may have worn out my spring and
fall welcome with the one neighbor I have. He and his sons
have been the muscle until now. Have you or your readers
ever covered a solution to this, using something like a
hydraulic ram or air-powered ram that could allow a oneperson raising or lowering procedure? Its getting to be that
time of year for me. Many thanks for your consideration. Jay
Storer pinezanita@volcano.net
I recently bought a copy of your magazine. I am

overwhelmed by the amount of information I saw. Here is
my situation. I have a 12 by 12 foot greenhouse in my
backyard, which I heat using an electric, wall-mounted
heater. My thought was to hook up a solar-electric panel,
converter, and battery to a separate electric heater to
complement the existing one. My problem is that I have
very little knowledge of all of the options available, and the
cost and the payback period. It costs me between $75 and
$100 a month to heat the greenhouse. Is this a practical and
cost effective solution in my situation? What kind of initial
cost might I run into? Thank you for time and expertise.
Sincerely, James Leonaitis kneen@mindspring.com
Hello James, Electric heating with PV is very expensive. For
example, if you run a small, 1,500 watt heater six hours per day,
you need to come up with 9,000 watt-hours (9 KWH) a day. In the
winter, you may get fewer than four sun hours every day,
depending on where you live. That means that you need to get
130
HP letters
2,250 instantaneous watts of real output, and you need a battery
to store it in, since the heater probably runs mostly when the sun
is not shining. An installed battery-based system is probably
going to cost you around US$9 per watt, so you can see that it
would be prohibitively expensive to do this.
There may be better ways. Solar hot water with hydronic
heating for your greenhouse will probably be the most costeffective, and will have a payback in a much shorter time than
using PV. See the article in HP96 on heating a large greenhouse
with solar-hydronics, so you can see how they did it and consider
it for your smaller greenhouse and home.
Another option is to install a grid-intertied PV system
without batteries that will offset some of your utility usage. This
will cost less than a battery-based system, and will be a more
efficient use of your PV panels. And with a system like this, you
install the system you can afford, though the bigger the system, the
cheaper it is per watt, and the more utility usage it will offset.
Finally, take a look at the article in this issue about an efficient
greenhouse in Pennsylvania. Theyre using a double-layer system
over their planting beds that in effect adds another blanket.
Michael Welch michael.welch@homepower.com
Dont Bash Republicans

I dont understand you people. You say that you are
about being independent of the great energy mongering
utility companies, and teaching people to be less dependent
on large corporations in your daily lives, but then you bash
the very political group that can make your goals reality,
that is, the Republicans.
Some examples: You demand that utility companies
offer incentives such as net metering for installing RE
systems, but then you support political candidates,
specifically Democrats, who everyone knows are the lap
dogs of the unions. And it is the unions that are making it
increasingly difficult for independent people like me to
build/contract my own house or to install my own RE
system. In some parts of the country, its impossible to do
any building or installation unless you are a licensed
tradesman in a union.
You bash President Bush because of his desires to drill
in Alaska or in the Gulf to alleviate some of our
dependence on foreign oil (and in turn strengthen the
economic stability of the United States). After all, the
United States is more dependent on foreign oil, and
specifically, Middle Eastern oil, than it was 30 years ago.
You say that if you drive an SUV, you are supporting
terrorism. I say that if you dont allow the drilling of
Alaska and thus perpetuate the dependence on foreign oil,
you support terrorism. Incidentally, you may not like it,
but oil is and will continue to be the primary fuel source
for many years, so until alternative energy sources
realistically come into play, why should we trash our
economy and risk our economic stability as a country for
just a few square miles of a place that most people, or for
that matter animals, never visit?
If Democrats were in power, what would be the reality?
Big, money grubbing, intrusive government! So long,
independent living. The thing is, I have read in this
magazine some really convincing economic arguments

about RE. When you take into account government subsides
and the unrealized, uncalculated costs of the way we
produce energy (the cost of strip mining or oil spill
recovery), RE is a viable alternative, and its a viable
alternative now! If you would control some of your more
radical, extreme speech, I believe that of all of the political
parties that would listen and adopt some of your
suggestions, it would be the Republicans.
The key to their hearts and minds, and this is the way it
should be, is to show that RE does make economic sense. If
it makes money, the Republicans will champion it. The
Democrats on the other hand, though on the surface they
will openly embrace your cause, when the rubber meets the
road and the balloon goes up, they are about power. They
will not champion a movement that seeks to free people
from government assistance and control. Instead they pass
legislation that cripples individuals ability to improve
themselves and cripples companies ability to grow. Just my
two cents! David DeSandre memphisdesandre@msn.com
Thanks for the feedback, David. Home Power welcomes the
full range of opinions as to how to best facilitate a renewable
energy future. Although you didnt specify the authors with whom
you so clearly disagree, publishing your letter ought to make sure
it gets seen by all of them. Best regards, Scott Russell
scott.russell@homepower.com
Sine Wave or Modified Square Wave

Dear Home Power, We have just recently subscribed to
HP magazine and we love the information, and read it
thoroughly as soon as we get it. We are getting ready to put
together an off-grid solar-electric system. A very basic, but
central, question we have is whether to purchase a modified
sine wave inverter or a true sine wave inverter?
Some people, including a Xantrex support technician,
have said that modified sine wave inverters work equally
well, and there are just a few appliances/devices that do not
run well on them. Other respected people have suggested
that modified sine wave inverters may cause an appliance
motor to run slightly hotter and therefore reduce the life of
the appliance. Do you have a suggestion or a
recommendation of an authority with whom we can speak?
Who the heck knows whats up with inverters? Thanks,
Nancy and Lars, homesteaders in Southwestern Colorado
Hi Nancy and Lars, First of all, lets be honest about the
terminology. Years ago, the marketing departments at major
inverter manufacturers came up with the phrase modified sine
wave for a product that should have been called modified square
wave. The waveform of these inverters is closer to a square wave
than a sine wave. Now manufacturers are calling their new
inverters true sine wave or pure sine wavethe next
generation of media hype, an escalation in a verbal arms race that
can only lead to mutual assured concept destruction. Look at the
number of steps in the wave, and the THD (total harmonic
distortion). Buy an inverter with a high quality waveform.
I recommend that you not buy a modified square wave
inverter. An inverter is a key component in your system. Dont
skimp on quality here! The only advantage of a modified square
www.homepower.com
131
HP letters
wave inverter is cost. But as with everything cheap, the full price
isnt in dollars. Youll get reduced performance from all your
appliancestheyll run hotter and not last as long. Some things
may even fry.
I think of modified square wave inverters as Third World
electricity. The popular Xantrex (formerly Trace) DR series was
named after the Dominican Republic, which has very poor grid
power quality. Modified square wave inverters are a step up to
those folks, but a big step down from U.S. grid power quality.
Even within the so-called sine wave inverters, there are
variations in quality. Xantrexs reliable SW series has lower power
quality than some other inverters on the market, such as the
Exeltech and OutBack lines. HP is working on an inverter
comparison article. Were considering not even covering modified
square wave inverters. That should tell you that we think they are
old technology, and not suitable for modern RE systems. Ian
Woofenden ian.woofenden@homepower.com
Hello Nancy and Lars, Id like to second Ians comments on
inverters. Only consider sine wave models! Over the last 30 years,
Ive owned and operated well over a dozen invertersabout half of
these were modified square wave. For the last six years, Ive run
nothing but sine wave models and Id never go back. Not only are
my appliances happier, they are also more efficient when powered
by a sine wave inverter. For example, both our deep well pump and
our microwave oven are around 30 percent more efficient. This
means more water pumped for less energy, and food is heated faster
while using less energy. If you consider the savings in energy
alone, the sine wave inverters pay for themselves very quickly.
Richard Perez richard.perez@homepower.com
Heating with Biodiesel

I read with interest the piece in HP97 on heating with
biodiesel. We heated our home all last winter in Corvallis,
Oregon, with B100 without any of the serious problems
noted in the article. Our Lennox furnace is probably the
original one installed in this 1959 home. Our pump hasnt
seized or leaked. I had to decommission our underground
fuel tank because we had a tiny leak (or I contaminated the
sample with my homemade soil sampler, a piece of schedule
80 PVC driven into the clay with a stick of wood), so I just
cut the lines to the old tank, attached two automotive fuel
hoses to the feed and return lines at the pump, and stuck the
hoses into a barrel in the garage.
The high lubricity of the B100 has it crawling up the
hoses, creeping past clamped hoses, and a tiny dribble
drains back from the nozzle when it is shut off. I catch that
in a pan. I experimented with SVO (straight vegetable oil)
filtered from local restaurant waste by our biodiesel co-op,
Grease Works, but even with a homemade preheater, the
stuff wouldnt burn. Its either too thick to go through the
filter or doesnt atomize properly to burn. Rather than try to
figure out what the problem was, I decided to be satisfied
burning a blend of 80 percent B100 and 20 percent SVO. It
seems to be working fine. We are on our second barrel of this
blend. It reduces the cost, and at least the SVO is truly a local
waste product.
Another tactic that Ive used is to install a second air-toair heat exchanger in the furnace flue pipe. I bought a Magic
132
Heat unit designed for in-house stoves, but mounted it in a

sheet metal box so I could duct the return air from near the
floor in the house, thus avoiding blowing garage air into the
house and avoid messing with the balance of the furnace
circulation system. The Magic Heat has its own thermostat
that starts the fan after the furnace circulation system kicks
on and turns it off before the furnace system kicks off
perfect to avoid cooling the flue gasses too much. We also
bought and installed a carbon monoxide detector just in case
there was something that I didnt understand. The amount
of hot air this thing blows into the house is amazing. And to
think we were losing all that up the flue pipe. Steve Cook,
Corvallis, Oregon steveandterric@peak.org
Hi Steve, Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is my
understanding that seals will sometimes take a while to start
leaking, so maybe one winter was not enough to know for sure. On
the other hand, I would not be surprised if it never leaks. I think
that leaks from deteriorating seals are rare, even in older vehicles
running biodiesel. A good strategy is to wait and see, keeping a
close eye on it, and if it ever develops a leak, worry about it then.
Of course, if we can get the manufacturers to switch their seals for
all these applications, there will never be a problem.
As far as adding a heat recovery system to your flue pipe, I had
completely forgotten about those things, having written them off
years ago for their primary applicationcapturing heat from a
wood heater flue. I wrote them off because they cooled the flue
gases too much, allowing buildup of combustibles on the inside of
the flue, and the units made it nearly impossible to clean the flue.
But this should not be a problem with your oil heaters flue.
Its a great idea for older heaters, but maybe not such a good
idea for newer heaters that are designed to be as efficient as
possible. I dont know all the ins and outs of flue gas, but it is hard
to imagine that the newer heaters would not take advantage of
every possible BTU that can be had from the unit. In other words,
if they are letting some heat go up the flue, there must be a good
reason for it, like maybe a minimum gas temperature for
appropriate evacuation out of the unit. Michael Welch
Solar Shingles & Trackers

I have a couple of questions that developed after this
years Solar Tour of homes. Many people had solar-electric
panels mounted on rooftops on new construction houses.
Why not use solar shingles and eliminate roofing shingles?
The folks I asked said it was unproven technology. My second
question is, why is no one using trackers? Only one person did
and his was adjustable only for seasonal variances. At a
latitude of 45 degrees, would not a tracker make good sense?
Dan Cosgro, Bend, Oregon cosgro@bendcable.com
Hello Dan, The solar shingles and roofing (thin-film and
crystalline) cost about the same per watt as do conventional
modules, while they do not have the proven track record that
conventional modules have. So the question is, How much
electricity will these shingles be making some 20+ years from
now? Considering the cost of PV (which is large), most folks are
conservative and go with the proven technology.
I personally use trackers herefour of them (about 64% of our
modules are on trackers). Some folks like them; some dont. This
HP letters
preference is usually based on maintenance issuestrackers
require some maintenance. I figure that we get an annual energy
boost of more than 30 percent on the modules we have on trackers
here. To me this is worth occasional maintenance. Richard Perez
richard.perez@homepower.com
Hi Dan, The solar shingle products Ive seen have an
additional problem beyond track record. They have lots of
connections and lots of roof penetrations. Im glad I wont be the
guy to install and troubleshoot these systems. The laminated metal
roofing product looks better to me, since all the connections can be
made at the roof peak. But its a bit early to tell how well this thinfilm product will last. Crystalline modules have been in the field
for 30-plus years.
I tend to be critical of trackers. They make sense in some
applications, and they are certainly fun, and boost output in the
short term, especially in summer. But putting a 30 to 40 year
product (PVs) on a 10 (?) year product is questionable to me, and
the calculations used to promote trackers dont ever seem to
include the maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and
replacement, or the fact that the increased output in off-grid
systems is mostly when we dont need increased output. I like
crystalline PVs because they are reliable, durable, and long
lasting. Putting them on trackers downgrades that simple
perfection. Ian Woofenden ian.woofenden@homepower.com
Alternating Battery Banks

I have many technical questions from time to time, and I
cannot find a consistently adequate source of information
here, as I live on a rural island with few trained people. Most
people in the solar field here have specific knowledge
gleaned from their own idiosyncratic experiences, and they
are often unable to given specific information that is
different from what they have experienced themselves.
For example, now that I have started with a small system
for my son, with a small wind generator, 400 watts, and
several PV panels (600 watts total), I am experiencing
discharged batteries after a few days, due to the overall
cloudy weather this time of year. I wonder if alternating
between two battery banks would be worthwhile as a
partial solution. Any thoughts? Thank you for your time. Joe
Bratton hilocare@ilhawaii.net
Hi Joe, Having two battery banks is not going to help you. You
seem to be having trouble keeping one battery bank charged up.
How are you going to deal with two? The worst thing you can do
for a battery bank is to discharge it and leave it discharged.
If the problem is actually not enough battery capacity, and you
usually have enough solar and wind energy to keep all the batteries
charged, what you need is increased capacity to get you through
those periods of no sun. Instead of having two battery banks, you
would be better off with one larger one. That way you never have
to switch between the two, and all are ready to go when needed.
And with a single, larger battery bank instead of two, there is no
interruption to your loads from switching over.
I suggest first analyzing your loads to make sure you know
what is using the energy. Then see if your generating sources
actually can keep up with your loads. An off-grid system has a
limited capacity, and you have to live within that or you will ruin
your batteries. Michael Welch michael.welch@homepower.com
Small Grid-Tied Systems

Hi guys, I read the magazine from cover to cover. Its
greatkeep it coming I was wondering the other day why I
cant find a smaller inverter for a wind turbine. I mean if we
set up a 400 watt or so wind generator, for example, and
then wire it directly to a 400 watt inverter, would this work?
Would we need some sort of battery buffer? What I am
trying to say is that we want to put wind energy straight
into the grid, less the battery hassle, and have a small
backup system to boot. This in essence would give us a
generator priced system that might lower the electric bill,
save the planet, and with the little effort, be an emergency
backup. Am I barking up the wrong tree?
Or how about 100 watts of solar electric modules plus
the 400 watts of wind, and an inverter? We live in Canada,
in an area where the average wind speed is 20 kph (12.4
mph). We pay 8.9 cents for electricity. We have more wind in
the winter than summer. Also, how much noise does a small
turbine produce, in laymans terms? Keep up the great
work. Dennis Weimer, Regina, Saskatchewan
dennis.and.jackie@sasktel.net
Hi Dennis, You can only sell electricity to the grid with an
inverter that is designed to do that. Small, inexpensive grid-tied
systems are difficult to put together. Grid-capable inverters
generally start in the 2,000 watt range. One Dutch company
(NKF Electronics www.nkfelectronics.com) makes small
batteryless grid-tied PV inverters. I am not aware of anything
comparable for micro-wind turbines. The entry level cost for a
home-sized grid-tied PV system is generally in the $US6,000 to
$10,000 range. In the last year, weve started to see batteryless
grid-tied wind turbines, but the entry level cost is higher than a
PV system, because of the tower cost.
When you plan a grid-tied system, a basic question you have
to answer is whether or not you want backup for utility outages.
If you want backup, you need batteries. Batteryless grid-tied
systems will not operate house loads when the grid is down. On
the other hand, batteries decrease the efficiency of the system, and
raise the cost and maintenance.
Some poorly designed wind turbines are quite noisy. Well
designed wind turbines are not at all noisy. I recommend that you
hear one in action before you buy, since noise tolerance is very
subjective. Ian Woofenden ian.woofenden@homepower.com
Datalogging Systems
Ive been wanting to write to HP for months now, but
just never could break away from all the things Im into long
enough to do it. HP95 put faces to names and that sorta
made the HP staff seem like friends somehow. I first want to
say that I think your magazine is super; I always find time
to sit down and read it. I even read the ads!
About three years ago, I installed a 4 KW PV system on
my house in southern California. I installed the forty
Siemens SR100 panels on the roof myself, with lots of help
from my sons and their friends. I was a little surprised at
how hard it was to find electricians who were familiar with
photovoltaic systems. My first attempt to hire an
experienced electrician knowledgeable about PV systems
ended in semi-disaster and we parted company. I finally
www.homepower.com
133
HP letters
located the Break brothers of Crescenta-Canada Electric in
La Canada, California. These are two outstanding
electricians (one of whom has a small off-grid system
himself) who wired up the AC side of the system and made
sure the two Xantrex SW4024 inverters were wired up to the
grid and house properly. We have since become great
friends (sharing RE seems to have that effect on people).
The system was permitted and inspected, and I have to
say that I read and re-read all of John Wiles articles on the
NEC relating to PV systems before starting (an incredible
wealth of informationthanks, John). There were a few
pushups I had to do to get the permits though. The county
folks didnt have a category for installing inverters; they
didnt know whether to call it a transformer or a power
panel. We settled on transformer because the permit was
cheaper. Also had a nice lady from the county drop by to see
if our property taxes would be affected. She haltingly asked
me, Whats a photovoltaic? adding that no one in her
office knew the answer. To her credit, she was enthusiastic
enough about the project to simply record it as roof
repairs, not wanting to have it subjected to any increase in
taxes. (California has exempted photovoltaic systems from
the property tax, but her office apparently hadnt gotten the
word.)
I got my rebate from the California Energy Commission
without too much trouble, but its a lot of paperwork. I
would advise California readers contemplating doing
something like this to very closely track their expenditures
because the CEC will want everything you have. And follow
their guidelines! The rebate is worth it though. (Im not sure
what the current state of the rebate program is now since the
big budget crisis hit in California, but theres info on the
CEC
Web
site
if
anybodys
interested.
See
www.consumerenergycenter.org/index.html, select Rebates,
Grants, and Loans, and check out renewable energy
rebates.)
One very pleasant surprise was how Southern California
Edison responded to my request to grid tie. Contrary to
what I had heard about electric utilities, they were very
cooperative. Of course, I had to provide evidence of permits
and inspections, but I had done that anyway. I had thought
that since I was taking business away from them, they
would be a real pain, but just the opposite was true. They
were very courteous and helpful and promptly authorized
the net metering grid tie. We are now considered a power
generating facility.
It will take more than a few years to get payback from
my system but, knowing that Im immune to prolonged grid
outages (I have four L-16s I use only for backup) and that
my electric bill has been cut in half, Im very satisfied with
the system. And watching my meter go backwards during
the day is just plain cool!
Now for the real reason Im writing. I wanted to monitor
my PV system on my computer. All our household
computers are running under Macintosh or Linux operating
systems, and I didnt want to give up my trusty Mac for a
PC just so I could use one of the off-the-shelf applications
available to do this kind of thing.
134
I did buy the Xantrex remote monitor module to get the

data into the computer, but quickly found that it was just too
slow and too clumsy (requiring sequential cycling to get the
desired data) and unreliable (sometimes randomly
changing the inverter state). The advantage of being able to
remotely control the inverters was not something I needed
(and I sure wouldnt use this device to control my inverters),
and I found the devices definitely not worth $100 each (I
spent $200 since I needed two, one for each of the two
inverters).
Undaunted, I found a data acquisition module,
232SDA12, from B & B Electronics (www.bbelec.com/data_acquisition/daq.asp) that provided eleven
A/D channels, three discrete inputs, and three discrete
output channels, and I used that for a while. I had to write
my own software, but since the module gets commands and
provides output in easy-to-handle ASCII text through an
RS232 serial interface, it was pretty easy to do using a
programming language no more sophisticated than BASIC.
I ran out of discrete/digital channels on the B & B module,
though, and had to look for a similar system with more
channels. (Im now using the B & B module on my PDA, and
the free PDA application they provide, to monitor the status
of an auxiliary solar-electric system I have. It takes very little
energy and works great.)
I finally settled on a board provided by Integrity
Instruments (www.integrityusa.com). Their ADC-1 board
has room for sixteen discrete connections (input or output,
user specifiable) and eight analog inputs. It also uses ASCII
text input/output and an RS232 interface. I have been using
it for quite a while now with excellent results. I found the
people at Integrity Instruments extremely helpful and
cooperative, and I heartily recommend their products.
The main problem with monitoring systems like this is
getting all the sensors and signal conditioning right. I chose
to do that myself because I felt I knew enough about it and
wanted to save some money. It turned out to be a little
trickier than I thought it would be because of the EMI/RFI
put out by all my solar-electric equipment; trying to run
milivolt level signals around without corruption cost me
more than a few life points. It took a while to get
everything calibrated, but I now have all the status I want
on my computer and can see how things are from the
comfort of my house day or night, rain or shine.
I found it to be pretty doable and something a lot of your
readers could do. Im sure, though, that there are readers out
there who cant or dont want to go the do-it-yourself way,
and I wonder if Richard Perez, who likes tinkering with
Macintosh computers, has any info on off-the-shelf
software or hardware for data acquisition that is Linux or
Macintosh compatible. Im sure other Mac users would be
interested and would save people from having to go
through all I had to. Any help for us fellow Mac users?
Sorry about being so wordy. Keep up the good work; Im
forevermore hooked on the magazine. H. Mac Grant
hmgrant@pacbell.net
Thanks for your fine letter, H. Mac. Were glad to hear about
your system and adventures. When we have a datalogging task at
HP letters
HP , we end up using PCs. Wed love to find comparable software and gear for Macs.
HP Tech Editor Joe Schwartz says that LabVIEW is now available for Macs. This is a
full-on DAQ design program, and doesnt come cheap. Its not something that one-time
users would want to invest in.
Overall, your experience is rather typical of what Ive seen for folks wanting to
datalog their RE systems. Theres a real hole in the RE product mix waiting to be
filleda plug-and-play datalogging system that nongeniuses can afford and install.
Since our industry is still small and young, I guess it should be no big surprise that we
dont have this yet, but Im looking forward to maturity, and the ability to easily keep
track of PV, wind, and hydro output, insolation, wind speed, etc. Regards, Ian Woofenden
AWP
African Wind Power
Send your letters and photos to

Home Power magazine at
letters@homepower.com or
PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520
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135
ozonal notes
Communications
Off-Grid
Richard Perez
2004 Richard Perez
In the 33 years that Karen and I have lived off-grid,

weve faced many problems. Transportation, energy, and
communications head the list. Of these, communications has
been the most difficult to solve.
Our home and office are located 7 miles (11 km) from the
nearest paved road, and 6 miles (10 km) from the nearest
phone line or utility power outlet. In the early days,
communications meant a long hike to our neighbors, who
were kind enough to collect our mail from our postal box on
the highway. During the winter, we would sometimes go two
months without picking up our mail. A telephone call meant a
trip to the nearest phone booth about 12 miles (19 km) from
usthe first 5 miles (8 km) were a hike, then a drive in a car.
In 1977, we installed a CB radio and this helped us
contact our near neighbors. In 1979, Karen and I became
amateur radio operators (hams) and this greatly extended
our communications range. When we went into business in
1982, we began to use radiotelephone systems. Over the
years, we have owned and operated seven different
radiotelephone systems. All were very expensive and none
of them worked as well as a hard-line telephone. Reliability
was low and telecommunications speed for computers was
very, very slownever faster than 4,800 baud.
Cell Phones
The advent of cellular telephones has made our
radiotelephone systems obsolete. Karen and I each have our
own cell phone, and we use external antennas to link up to
a local mountaintop cell site about 15 miles (24 km) from us.
This has proved to be far more reliable and much cheaper
than operating our own radiotelephone system.
The external, cell phone, beam antennas are of the Yagi
design, with fifteen elements each. They look like a small TV
antenna and are about 3 feet (0.9 m) long. They cost around
US$200 each and greatly boost the operating range of the
cell phone.
Each antenna is fed by special, low loss, RF coaxial cable
called Heliax. This cable is about 1/2 inch (13 mm) in
diameter and costs about US$1 per foot. A short, thin coax
adapter connects the large diameter Heliax to the cell phone. As
with all antennas, these should be located as high as possible
(we have ours mounted on a mast on the roof), and pointed at
the nearest cell site. By using these antennas, our cell phones
went from no signal at all inside the house, to a full-scale signal
that is rock solid into the cellular telephone network.
136
Richard & Karens satellite Internet dish and one of

the two cell phone antennas at their off-grid home/office.
Satellite Internet
Computer communications were still very slow until the
advent of direct-to-satellite systems. Three years ago, we
installed a StarBand 360 system. This system is detailed in
HP84 , page 108. With this StarBand system, we were able to
directly connect to the Internet via a satellite. This system
required a Windows-based PC to operateit would not
play directly into our Macintosh computers. We used the PC
as a proxy server with a program called WinProxythis
served up the Internet to the various Macs on our local area
network (LAN).
After virtually no Internet service at all, StarBand was
greatspeeds up to 500 KBPS on downloads and up to 150
KBPS on uploads. While the cost was high, about US$700 for
the hardware with installation, plus US$70 per month, it
was worth it. For the first time, our remote homestead had
real computer telecommunications. This type of direct to
satellite Internet access is really the only solution for off-grid
folks, or for those without cable or DSL access and with slow
phone lines.
Its easy to get spoiled by high speed Internet access. At
our downtown office, we have high speed cable, and it runs
far faster than the StarBand 360 service. I imagine that our
business is much like other businesseswe are all doing
ozonal notes
more work online and continually becoming more
dependent on the functionality of the Internet. Several
months ago, I heard that StarBand began offering a higher
speed service for remote home offices, called StarBand 480.
When I investigated StarBand 480 further, I discovered
that in addition to greater speed, the service worked
differently than the earlier StarBand 360 service. The 480
modem does not require a PC to operate. It would play
directly into our LAN and into our Macs. For me, this was
as big an attraction as the higher speed.
The PC server we were using on the StarBand 360
service was a pain. I was forced to deal with the Windows
operating system and this PC server had to be operating all
day, every day. At the time, laptops were far more expensive
than desktops, and had fewer features. We also used the PC
as a file server (the machine contained three, 60 GB hard
drives and we routinely used them all), before the
magazines production moved to our office in town. This
desktop server was consuming about 1.7 KWH per day to
provide us with Internet access. Eliminating this server
would save us enough energy to run a large
refrigerator/freezerroughly the energy equivalent of
buying five, new, 100 watt, PV modules at our location.
So we recently upgraded our StarBand system to the
new 480 service. Its modem draws 28 watts and has a power
The StarBand 480 high speed satellite modem is Ethernet

compatible, so it works with any networked computer,
including Macs.
factor of 0.58. The service uses a modem that is very similar

to a cable modem in function. With the 360 service, much of
the computational telecomm housekeeping was being done
by the computer, hence the necessity of having a Windows
PC on line. The StarBand 480, however, does all this
housekeeping inside the modem and requires no resident
computer to baby-sit the modem. The 480 comes with four,
100 base T, Ethernet ports on its back. Since we have far
more than four items connected to our LAN, we merely ran
the StarBand 480 modem directly to our 16 port Ethernet
switch. Here the signals are routed to the various Macs in
our home office.
The speed difference is markeddownloads now
proceed at least twice as fast and uploads go between four
and six times faster. The speed difference is particularly
noticeable on large files, and we send and receive many
large files every day.
As is usual with higher speed Internet access, its more
expensivethe faster you go, the more it costsmore
bandwidth means more money. While the hardware costs
just a little more installed, the monthly fee is much larger.
StarBand 480 service costs US$159.95 per month and allows
Internet use by four computers simultaneously. We
managed to cut this charge to US$139.95 per month by
signing a three-year contract with StarBand.
Currently, the 480 service is only available to new
StarBand customers. We got around this limitation by
essentially becoming a new customer. We bought the whole
480 systemdish, microwave transceiver, and modem. By
late spring, StarBand is planning to make the 480 service
available to existing customers, and this will require merely
changing out the 360 modem and replacing it with the 480
modem.
Other satellite Internet services will not support Macs at
all, so I didnt even consider them. To say that we are
pleased with the StarBand 480 system would be an
understatement. Its far faster. We dont have to deal with
the cranky, alien, Windows operating system anymore,
making telecomm here more reliable. And were busy
finding uses for the 1.7 KWH of solar electricity weve saved
by not running that PC all the time. Color us high speed and
happy.
Access
Richard Perez, Home Power, PO Box 520, Ashland, OR
97520 541-941-9716 Fax: 541-512-0343
richard.perez@homepower.com www.homepower.com
StarBand Communications Inc., 1750 Old Meadow Road,
McLean, VA 22102 800-478-2722 www.starband.com
Advanced Communication Solutions, 7136 E 2nd St., Ste.
101, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 928-772-7515
Fax: 928-772-3321 www.advanced-comm-solutions.com
Cellular telephone external antennas and amplifiers
www.homepower.com
137
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Questions & Answers

Thin-Film Modules
Back in HP73, there was an article on laser-grooved PV
cells and thin-film PV technology. It mentioned that thinfilm cells might be around in about 2003. Im wondering
where thin-film technology is now, having seen things like
the flexible cells for buildings being announced and only
minute changes in tech over the last five years. When might
we see truly affordable PV cells for the masses? Ed Wahl
wahl@cray.com
Hello Ed, There are currently a few U.S. thin-film
manufacturers. UniSolar, First Solar, and Shell Solar all
manufacture thin-film PVs. On the other hand, this year BP Solar
closed down their thin-film operation, and discontinued the
Millennia thin-film line.
UniSolars laminates are designed to be installed on metal,
standing seam roofs, and are gaining popularity, since theyre a
truly building-integrated product that looks great. But right now,
the cost is comparable to crystalline PV technologies that have
longer track records in the field. Basically, thin-film technologies
are having a tough time breaking into the market, because theyre
competing against crystalline technologies that cost about the
same, and we know will typically last for 30 years plus.
As far as truly affordable PV cells for the masses, thats really
anybodys guess at this point. Inexpensive thin-film technologies
have been on the horizon for more than a decade. The
expectation for lowered cost is there for sure, but so far, no
manufacturer has been able to deliver thin-film PVs at a cost
significantly lower than crystalline PVs. Thin-film PVs do use
significantly less raw materialabout 1/500th when compared to
crystalline PVs. But this materials savings hasnt resulted in
lower cost PVs yet. Joe Schwartz joe.schwartz@homepower.com
Splicing Aluminum Wire

Greetings folks, I must say, HP96 is a stellar issue.
Question: Can you e-mail me any HP article (or refer me to
it) on splicing aluminum wire? I want to know how to do it,
its pitfalls, how to waterproof the splice, etc. I dont have
your CD set yet (twinkle in minds eye). Thanks much,
Andy, California, HP reader since 1987 andyh@mcn.org
Hey Andy, Glad youre enjoying the mag. We have a great
time putting it together. We havent run an article on the topic,
but it would be a good one. I typically use SPA-type connectors
when splicing copper (CU) or aluminum (AL) wire. SPA
connectors are stout AL butt splice connectors, with a pair of hex
setscrews that make the mechanical/electrical connection. If CU
wire is run to these AL connectors, an anti-oxidant must be used
to minimize electrolysis, which is corrosion due to the contact
between dissimilar metals. Once the setscrews are torqued down, I
always wait five or ten minutes and then retighten them.
Aluminum cable seems to relax a bit after its compressed. Both
the SPAs and the anti-oxidant are available in most hardware
stores. Larger #2/0 to #4/0 SPAs will probably require a trip to an
electrical supply distributor.
After the mechanical/electrical connections are solid, I wrap
the connector and an inch or two of the spliced wire with several
wraps of rubber tape. This will keep the splice dry. Over that, I
140
apply a few wraps of high quality electrical tape to further protect

the splice. Heat shrink tubing can also be used to weatherize the
splice. See John Wiles column in HP96 for some other connector
ideas. Joe Schwartz joe.schwartz@homepower.com
Dont Add More Batteries

I have a pretty ordinary off-grid home with PVs and a
generator running through a Trace 4024 inverter. I am using
a string of twelve Sun Xtender batteries from Concorde. I
have the opportunity to acquire another string of batteries
that would be different in capacity, size, and age from the
original string. I am sure that there would be trouble with
charging if I simply put them in parallel. What are the
problems exactly and what is the solution? Thanks for your
help, Forest Crumpler, off-grid in Tennessee
fcrumpler@cityofsunrise.org
Hello Forest, The problem with dissimilar batteries wired
together is that the better ones do all the work of storing and
delivering energy while the weaker ones absorb more energy on the
charge cycle and do not give it back on the discharge cycle. This is
very inefficient. Use either the new batteries or the old, but dont
wire them together in the same battery pack. Richard Perez
Gas to Electric
Hello to all at HP, I am considering converting a riding
mower from gas to electric. What I need info on is
determining the size motor needed. Does a mower with a 16
hp gas engine need an equal size electric motor? From what
I have seen in auto conversions, this does not seem to be the
case, but how do you determine what is needed? I am
planning to use most of the riding mower as is, with a belt
driven transaxle and mower deck. Maybe this is too
involved for a simple answer; if so, please point me the right
direction and I will take it from there. Thank you and keep
up the great job. Dennis Fry fry@mwt.net
Dennis, Youre right that you cant simply match electric
horsepower to gas horsepower. Thats because gas engines and
electric motors are rated differently. Gas engines are typically
rated for peak hp, while electric motors are generally rated for
continuous hp.
Your best bet for sizing components would be to look at
systems in similar electric vehicles. In your case, I would suggest
looking at the Gorilla at www.gorillavehicles.com. This is a utility
vehicle of a similar size to a riding mower, and can in fact be used
with mower attachments. You might also get some help from the
Elec-Trak Owners Club at www.elec-trak.org. The Elec-Trak is a
riding garden mower/tractor that is out of production, but still has
many devoted users. Shari Prange & Mike Brown, Home Power
Transportation Editors electro@cruzio.com
DIY Solar Collectors

Great magazine! Theres no other like it. I havent seen
any articles on actually building solar hot water panels. I
know PV panels are too hi-tech for the backyard guy to
build, but solar water heating panels are not so complicated.
Q&A
Im preparing to build a small building to mount water
panels on, with a 200 gallon storage tank inside. I can get
free glass and a free tank. Id love the challenge of building
my own (pipes, aluminum sheets, insulation, glass, etc.).
Thanks for any leads. Paul Melanson, Nova Scotia Canada
Paul_Melanson@intertan.com
Hi Paul, Building an insulated enclosure with glass on one
side is not rocket science and well within the realm of do-ityourselfers. The only part of building a collector that might be
considered high tech is the riser tube to absorber plate bonding.
The tubes and plate must have good thermal conductivity or the
collector will perform poorly.
There are a couple of ways that a do-it-yourselfer can build a
decent collector from scratch, but the methods of bonding riser
tubes to the absorber plate are somewhat sensitiveproprietary,
trade secret type stuff. The way most collector manufacturers do
this is with a constant weld, braze, or solder joint between the tube
and plate. This is tedious and somewhat expensive if done by hand,
but can be done with 95/5 solder if a copper absorber plate is used
(this should not be a selective surface absorber, just black paint).
We have seen many plates in older collectors debond (the riser
tubes separate from the plate), and assume that this is due to the
manufacturer using a lower melting point 50/50 solder to make
the joint. Some manufacturers have used a mechanical crimp to
make the bond; some have used thermally conductive adhesives.
Some of these have worked well; some have not.
There may be a how-to article sometime in the next year or so
on building your own collector if we can convince the right people
that divulging a little information really wont hurt their business.
Any good points on the subject to help convince them are
welcomed. Cheers, Chuck Marken chuck@aaasolar.com
Both are good tools for long and efficient battery serviceusing
one doesnt mean that the other is unnecessary. See my article on
battery care and maintenance in HP98. Richard Perez
Send your questions to

Home Power magazine at
letters@homepower.com or
sunelec.com
Liquidation Sale

305 536-9917
Equalization
Dear Richard, There is a discussion going on here on our
3 by 4 mile island (where all electricity is solar or wind with
generator charging in winter, and all phones are cell
phones), about the need for equalization when using one or
more desulfators. I understand you to have reported that
equalization is needed, if not to clean the plates, but also to
stir up the acid, if I understood the third-hand report
correctly. The folks at InnovativeEnergy.com, which makes
the desulfator we are using (several versions are made by
different companies), answered my inquiry: No
equalization is necessary. The primary purpose of
equalization is to shed sulfation off the battery plates. The
desulfator prevents any accumulation.
If the secondary purpose is to mix the acid, how much
equalization is needed to do this, as distinguished from
necessary to effect the primary purpose, that is, to clean the
plates? The reason I ask is that often equalization is done
with a generator, which takes fuel. Is there an optimum for
merely mixing the acid that doesnt require so much added
energy? Sincerely, Bill Appel, Waldron, Washington (and a
faithful reader) APPELLLB@aol.com
Hello Bill, Equalizing charges are necessary even if an
electronic desulfator is in use. The equalizing charge brings all the
cells in the battery up to the same state of chargefull. The
electronic desulfator aids this by breaking up large sulfate crystals.
24/25 April, 2004

Canton, NY
www.ncenergy.org
315-379-9466
www.homepower.com
141
readers marketplace
HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEMS: Pelton
and Crossflow designs, either
complete turbines or complete
systems. Assistance in site evaluation
and equipment selection. AC Systems
for standalone or grid interconnect
operation. Manufacturing home and
commercial size turbines since 1976.
Send for a free brochure. Canyon
Industries Inc., P.O. Box 36 HP, Deming,
WA 98244, 360-592-5552. e-mail:
citurbine@aol.com web page:
canyonhydro.com HP9902
EARTH SHELTERED HOMES This
definitive manual by noted authority
Loren Impson features detailed
building instructions for amazingly
affordable and practical Ferro Cement
Domes. Only $15 from Loren, 71
Holistic, Mt. Ida AR 71957
www.2BbyD.com HP9903
COSOLAR.COM discount prices from
Colorado Solar Electric. New Shell
SQ80 in stock $328. OutBack Inverters
in stock 1-800-766-7644 HP9904
SINGLE AND DUAL AXIS SOLAR
TRACKER CONTROLS up to 48V and
5A output. www.theanalogguy.com
HP9905
WIND TURBINES! Best prices
nationwide. Bergey - AWP - Turbex.
www.pineridgeproducts.com
406-738-4284 HP9906
SURPLUS INDUSTRIAL BATTERIES:
Save up to 70% on unused military
and industrial batteries. Many types
and sizes, super H.D. Factory crated.
Also chargers, wind and solar
equipment, new and used. D.P.S.D. Inc.
3807 W. Sierra Hwy. #6, Acton CA
93510. 661-269-5410. Fax 661-269-1303.
HP9907
ALMOST FREE SOLAR POWER!
Unbelievably cheap (under $500) DIY
systems for home, cabin, rv, boat.
PowerFromSun.com. HP9908
RADIO/TELEPHONES Voice-Fax-Web 18 lines 20mi. CELLULAR Antenna pkg
improves access 208-263-9755 PDT
HP9909
REMANUFACTURED INVERTERS,
LARGE INVENTORY, UP TO 55% OF
LIST, with factory warranties, all
brands, all sizes. Call Sun at
305-536-9917 Can be drop shipped
from factory. HP9925
142
WAREHOUSE CLEANING SALE, New

solar modules: 2 Sharp 165s; 2
BPSX150; 2 BPSX120U; 2 KC158s-$3
per watt + shipping fm 91361.
Inverters, Xantrex STXR2500 Grid-tied,
UL $1,500 ea. 2 used SW4048PV
inverters (36 VDC/110A nom. 120
VAC/60A really) Grid-tied inverters nonUL, Trace rebuilt in factory boxes
w/receipts, SWODE cabinets GFI
boards & GFI transformer. Ominion
6kW, 330 VDC-120 VAC Bi-polar UL
used inverter $1,500 + shipping, $1,000
+ shipping ea. 805-497-9808 fax
805-497-6199,
gj@solarelectricalsystems.com
HP9910
POWERPULSE(r) SULFATION
BUSTERS endorsed by R. Perez! 12V
$69.95 free UPS. 800-222-7242 for
other models/wholesale prices. email:
abrahamsolar@hotmail.com Siemens
40 watt: $170! Ask about other surplus
modules or any energy gear. Veteran
Colorado equipment broker; happy
clients since 1984. HP9911
VIDEOS AVAILABLE: NEW-GUERILLA
SOLAR INSTALL, Introduction to
Solar Electricity, Introduction to
Solar Pool Pumps, How To Solar
Installation Video VHS and DVD
www.igotsolar.com HP9912
ECOMALL: The largest environmental
portal of earth-friendly companies and
resources. Renewable energy
companies, news and information.
www.ecomall.com. To advertise, call
845-679-2490. HP9913
LARGE GAS REFRIGERATORS 12, 15 &
18 cubic foot propane refrigerators. 15
cubic foot freezers 800-898-0552 Ervins
Cabinet Shop, 220 N County Rd. 425E.,
Arcola, IL 61910 HP9914
XXXXXUSED SOLAR MODULESXXXX
XXXXXXXX 64 Watts $319 XXXXXXXX
New recondition Trace SW5548 (GTI
unit) 1 year warranty $2950.Used
MSX80s $295, BZ 16 amp PWM digital
controller $84, Ex 2KW inverter SB, 110
amp charger New $850, new 165 Watt
modules $742(min 2). Buy, sell
New/Used, Trace, NiCds. refrigerator.
Try to match anyones prices. Call or
send S.A.S.E. to Craig Eversole, 10192
Choiceana, Hesperia CA 92345 for free
flyer. M/C VISA Discover 760-949-0505
HP9915
VERMONT PV DEALER. David

Palumbo/Independent Power & Light
has been designing and installing PV
systems for more than 16 years.
OutBack, Studer, Xantrex and
Exceltech inverters. Evergreen, Shell,
BP, Kyocera PVs. Harris Hydro. Trojan,
Surrette/Rolls, and SLA batteries.
Honest dealer who offers personal
support and service. David is one of
the original RE pioneers... he knows
how to really squeeze all the energy
out of a KWH! Richard Perez (HP60).
IP&L, 462 Solar Way Drive, Hyde Park,
VT 05655. Phone 802-888-7194. Email:
ipl@sover.net. Web site:
www.independent-power.com. No
catalog requests please. Please call for
appointment before visiting. HP9917
ALASKA RE - Pro design, installation &
service of remote power systems. AK
Distributor for Outback products. Large
inventory - inverters, PV panels & RE
equipment in Fairbanks - ready to ship.
References. 907-457-4299 or
gegan@renewalaska.com. HP9929
I AM A SOLAR WHOLESALER looking
for retailers to carry my solar
electronic and hobby goods. Phone #
(916) 486-4373. Please leave message.
HP9919
WANTED: SOLEC SQ-80 solar module.
E-mail wstef@yahoo.com or call 650
740 3337 HP9920
EDTA RESTORES SULFATED
BATTERIES. EDTA tetra sodium salt,
$12/lb. plus $5 S&H for 1st lb. plus $1
S&H for each additional lb. Trailhead
Supply, 325 E. 1165 N., Orem, UT
84057, (801) 225 3931, email:
trailheadsupply@webtv.net, info. at:
www.webspawner.com/users/edta.
HP9922
WANTED: Wincharger 12V heavy-duty
& Trace Microsine. Ron 814-456-1420.
Rontner@yahoo.com HP9940
VARI-CYCLONE: DC powered ceiling
fan, 40% more airflow with no increase
in power consumption. For more info
contact RCH Fanworks, the #1
manufacturer of DC powered ceiling
fans, 2173 Rocky Crk. Rd. Colville, WA
99114 PH: 509-685-0535, email:
info@fanworks.com, Web:
www.fanworks.com, Dealer inquiries
welcome. HP9923
readers marketplace
SURVIVAL UNLIMITED.COM Emergency Preparedness & Survival
Supplies. Wind Power from 439.00+.
Many great products & prices!
1-800-455-2201
www.survivalunlimited.com HP9924
PHOTOWATT DROPSHIPPED FROM
FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU, $3.30 PER
WATT, 25 yr warranty. Minimum order
10 modules. Contact Sun @
305-381-6166 HP9925
DANBY PROPANE 8 cu. ft. refrig.
freezer $800 shipped direct from
factory. Call Sun 305-381-6166
HP9925
KUBOTA DIESEL GENERATOR Low
Boy 6.5 KW, super quiet, only 64 DCB.
Only $3,550. Call Sun 305-381-6166
HP9925
AIR LAND 403 $349 305-539-0403
HP9925
HONDA GENERATORS - 1000 to 10,500
watts. Fast shipping and great prices!
www.hayesequipment.com
1-800-375-7767 HP9916
TURNKEY OFF-GRID BUILDING SITE IN
SE ARIZONA, with 360 degree mt.
views, and remodeled 65 2BR mobile
home, on secluded 111 acres just
minutes from historic Bisbee. 4800
elev, alluvial topsoil, mesquite,
creosote, native grass. 1st class
improvements include excellent well
w/ timer & pump protection, high end
PV system in its own well-built
structure, septic, and telephone. Ready
for your off-grid dream home!
$157,500. Susan, Long Realty. 520-4322456. email blackford@theriver.com
HP9926
WIZBANG BATTERY DESULFATORS
*NEW* $30ea. 4 or more $25ea. Free
Shipping in USA. E-mail:
Wizbang4me@aol.com for
datasheet/orders. HP9927
CONVERT WOOD TO ELECTRICITY:
Steam engine powered generator sets
http://www.geocities.com/steamgen/
918-520-7711 or wjjcg7@cox.net 2827
N. Kingston Ct. Tulsa OK 74115
HP9928
DC SUBMERSIBLE WELL PUMPS.
Complete, ready to install. $187
includes IMMEDIATE FREE SHIPPING.
Visit www.nemopumps.com or call
1-877-684-7979 HP9918
PHOTOVOLTAICS AS LOW AS
$3.75/watt @ NO MINIMUM! Complete
Solar Grid-tie kits, RV Power Kits, Solar
Air Heaters, & much more!
Catalog/Design Guide = $4.
RenewableElectricity.com
503-641-3732. HP9930
TELLURIDE COLORADO: Off the Grid

Properties! Hot Springs, Riverside,
solar powered homes, large and small
ranches. Find your own place in the
sun with the only solar powered real
estate office in Colorado. T.R.I. (970)
728-3205 1-800-571-6518 HP9921
JACOBS LONG & SHORT CASE WIND

GENERATORS, excellent condition.
405-567-3750 HP9931
Att. GUERILLAS the 100 watt OK4U

(AKA TRACE microsine) is on sale now
for $249 at http://gridtieinverters.
homestead.com/frontpage.html or call
SUNPOWER at 310 383 6698 HP9932
DUNLITE, RARE 5KW MODEL, never

used. Suitable enthusiast or vintage
museum. $16,000. john@gosolar.co.nz
HP9939
OK PASSIVE SOLAR HOME E Okla. 40A
woods/pasture 1 KW solar/wind, good
water well, solar water heater, see at
www.holdenville-ok-realestate.com,
listing #10652; or call Welch Real
Estate 405-379-3331 HP9933
COLORADO MTN RETREATRecreational paradise 50 min from
Aspen. 1500 SF residence, 3500 SF
shop. 1 KW, year-round, hydro-elect
grid-tied UPS. 11 ac, great views,
southern exp, bordering national
forest. Gravity-fed piped irrigation with
senior water rights, springs & creek
frontage. $750,000. May be purchased
with 25 KW grid-tied hydro elect plant.
Call 970-927-4212 HP9934
COMPLETE HOME
BATTERY/INVERTER/SWITCH GEAR.
Two 1,000 ah. Trojan battery @25V;
Xantrex SW 4024 inverter C40 charge
controller, 60 A AC disconnect; 250 A
DC disconnect - all factory wiremounted on IPP. Inverter/switch gear
never connected to DC or AC. Battery
bank nearly new (same age). Price
$6,000 OBO. Tel 775-972-4319 Fax
775-323-2804 HP9935
TRACE INVERTERS, ser #s AG01745 &
AG01747, full sine wave, 24 Deka
batts., (12) 110 watt panels w/racking,
tri-meter, accs, 4 yr old, presently in
operation, orig. $25,000+, asking
$15,000. Jeff 970 884-9811 (fob SW Co)
HP9936
WIND TURBINE, 5 KW Enertech. Exl
cond. Complete w/manual, control
panel & wire. No tower. $4,200. 715472-2083 HP9937
SOLAR MIRROR KITS Low cost, up to
45,000 BTU/HR in focal spot. Shall we
manufacture them? Interested? e-mail
Consultco@aol.com HP9938
www.homepower.com
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
MECHANICAL DESIGN &
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
PROTECTION. Deevolution.net. James
Baker, 114 Mono Ave, Fairfax, CA
94930 (415) 453-2910 ALSO, SMALL
VENTURE CAPITAL SCHEME NEEDED
FOR MANUFACTURING & MARKETING
OF TREE-TOP WINDMILL DESIGN.
HP9941
HOUSE FOR SALE Live in fairyland!
Off-grid 2-story, 1 BR, 1 bath; 2 cabins
for addl BRs. 450 watts PV, 6 heavyduty Surette batteries. Some propane
appliances. 21.95 acres of woods on
Davis Stream in Washington, Maine.
25 miles inland from
Camden/Rockland. $136,500. Email
cloechunn@rcn.com or call 207-3381147 HP9942
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143
advertisers index
AAA Solar Supply 95
ABS Alaskan 115
Abundant Renewable Energy 135
Adopt a Library 118
Advanced Communication
Solutions 119
Advertising in Home Power 111
Alternative Energy
Engineering 46
Alternative Energy Store 123
Alternative Power & Machine 121
Alternative Technology Assoc 139
Appalachian State University 100
B.Z. Products 123
BackHome 138
Backwoods Solar Electric
Systems 53
Baileys Inc 79
Beacon Power Corp 13
Bergey Windpower 12
Biodiesel Solutions Co 70
Blue Sky Energy Inc 47
Bogart Engineering 119
BP Solar 2
Brand Electronics 101
Butler Sun Solutions 85
C. Crane Company 113
Central Boiler 79
CheapestSolar.com (ZAP) 139
Communities magazine 138
Dankoff Solar Products 95
Daystar 139
Direct Power and Water Corp 85
Earth Solar 55
Electro Automotive 104
Electron Connection 60
Energy Outfitters 6 & 7
Energy Systems & Design 119
EV Solar Products 117
Evergreen Solar 21
Exeltech 97
Forcefield 126
Fronius International 29
Gorilla Vehicles 101
Harris Hydroelectric 105
Heavens Flame 114
Helios Energies 35
Hitney Solar Products 108
Home Power Resale 114
Home Power Back Issues 81
Home Power CD-ROMs 86
Home Power Solar1 CD-ROM 81
Home Power Solar8 CD-ROM 138
Home Power Sub Form
Home Power T-shirts 80
Homepower.com 122
Hutton Communications 87
Hydrocap 104
Hydroscreen Co LLC 127
Inverter Repair 109
Jack Rabbit Energy Systems 119
John Drake Services, Inc. 115
Junghans Solar Watches 127
Kelln Solar 111
KTA Services Inc 127
Kyocera Solar Inc OBC
Coming...
Light It Technologies 79
Liquid Sun Hydro 85
MK Battery/East Penn Mfg 54
Morningstar 115
MREA Workshops 117
NE Sustainable Energy Assoc
(NESEA) 123
New Electric Vehicles-Closeout 80
North Country Sustainable Energy
Fair 141
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun
105
Northwest Energy Storage
53, 79, 115
Offline 114
OutBack Power Systems 37
Planetary Systems Inc 139
Powerdock by JRV Products 119
PowerPod Corporation 126
Powertech Solar Ltd 139
Quick Start Specials 80
Rae Storage Battery Company 20
RAM Energy Systems 36
Renewable Energy Videos 127
RightHand Engineering 123
Rolls Battery Engineering 94
RWE SCHOTT Solar IBC
San Juan College 135
Sharp Solar Systems Division 11
Simmons 139
SMA America Inc 4
Solar Converters 70
Solar Depot IFC
Solar Electric Inc 54

Solar Energy International 61,
114
Solar Pathfinder 35
Solar Unlimited 127
Solar Village 59
Solar Wind Works 53
Solartrax Power Stations 105
Solatron 109
SOLSolar-On-Line 127
SOLutions in Solar Electricity 123
Southwest Windpower 87
Subscribe to HP 109
Sun Electronics 28, 45, 71,
115, 141
Sun Frost 111
Sun Pumps Inc 101
SunDanzer 104
SunEarth Inc 69
SunLine Solar & Lighting 69
SunWize 35
SuperbrightLEDs.com 119
Tech Traders Inc 139
Trojan Battery 97
U.S. Battery 5
UniRac 108
Upland Technologies 20
Wattsun (Array Tech Inc) 115
Windstream Power Systems 126
Xantrex 1
Zephyr Industries Inc 108
Zomeworks 135
Next Issue
Debunking the Top 12

RE Myths
Solar Hot Water History
Investment Analysis
PV vs. Stock Market
Off-Grid PV Powered
Adobe Getaway
Image courtesy of Perlin/Butti Solar Historical Archive Collection.
144
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February March 2004

Display until April 1

Dankoff Solar Products New Mexico

Hutton Communications - Georgia

Effective Solar Products - Louisiana

Intermountain Solar Technologies Utah

Polar Wire - Alaska

Now with our BP Solar electric

whenever we need it.

For more information, visit our website:

Southwest PV Systems - Texas

Talmage Solar Engineering, Inc. Solar Market - Maine

Soltek Powersource Ltd. - Alberta

Soltek Powersource Ltd - Ontario

Soltek Powersource Ltd. British Columbia

Trans-Canada Energie - Quebec

At U.S. Battery, were committed to doing our part in keeping the

home power 99 / february & march 2004

Photo by Susan Lerner,

What the Heck?

nuts & bolts

Part 2How to install a solar hot air system.

Home & Heart

What the Heck?

Rachel Ware & Laurie Stone

A quest for a replacement part becomes a pilgrimage to visit one of

Senior Editor & Word

Advertising: Connie Said

Marketing & Resale: Scott Russell

Editorial Submissions: Eric Grisen

home power 99 / february & march 2004

Solar Energy System

Reliable. Flexible. Enlightened.

2003 Sharp Electronics Corporation.

With black frames and trim,

Sharps solar power monitor blends

5-Year Warranty (Industrys Longest)

4 Times More Energy Than the Air 4031

Wattmeter LED Function

1.8 Times More Energy Than the Whisper H402

2001 Priestley Ave.

The shock to owners of

Many homeowners are shocked to discover

The Smart Power M5 from Beacon

For complete information

home power 99 / february & march 2004

Perfect Summer Paradise

Before I could finish, Joyce interrupted me and said, Buy

Modules: Eight Kyocera KC120-1m, 120 W STC, 12

Batteries: Eight Rolls S-530, flooded lead-acid,

much time indoors during the summer, since we prefer to

home power 99 / february & march 2004

Inverter: Xantrex SW4024,

Our calculated daily energy requirement came to 2,525

Marue System PV Sizing

Hours Days Avg. WH

2,525.2 x 1.1 inverter efficiency = Daily DC WH

2,777.7 25 V for system = Daily DC AH

111.1 x 1.2 loss factor = Adjusted Daily AH

133.3 5 hrs. sun / day = Total PV Amps

26.7 7.1 A per module = Parallel Strings

3.8 x 2 in series = Modules Needed

133.3 AH x 4 reserve days = Battery AH

533.3 .5 max DOD = Adj. Battery AH